For People Living with HIV – It’s about a Steady Building of Trust

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Three lively conversations were humming simultaneously, as REACH adults explored the theme of Rooted in Belonging in the breakout session. They were chatting about the difference between belonging and fitting in, with plenty of examples to share about places they were accepted unconditionally, versus groups where they had to hold back or limit themselves to fit in.

As usual, it took some effort to rally the groups back together in one big circle. As chairs were being slid and scooted back into place… a surprised voice burst out, “Wait, REACH is Christian?” I (Pam) answered in the usual way, “Yes, REACH staff and board members are Christians; our volunteers and participants come from a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs. Our posture as a non-profit is to not be preachy or pushy. We measure whether all participants are feeling 100% welcomed multiple times every year, and thankfully we have always gotten 100% positives!”

As I prepared to move on to our next breakout topic, “Elaine” my immediate neighbor in the circle announced, “REACH is the one Christian group I’ve been a part of since the mid-1980s that has been completely non-judgmental. So many of us were put out of our churches just because of our status!” Her voice quivered midway through the last sentence so I instinctively put my arm around her for a side hug. She responded so enthusiastically we ended up bumping heads!

It’s a privilege to extend unconditional acceptance and love to people who have been judged and hurt by some churches and some Christians. It may take a while for these participants to believe what we say and trust us, but time is on our side as we have been building safe community for 31 years.

May Events at REACH: Connection, Creativity, and Community

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🌿 May Events at REACH: Connection, Creativity, and Community

As we step into May, we’re so excited to continue creating spaces where connection grows, creativity thrives, and every individual and family feels seen and supported.

Whether you’re joining us for a support group, a creative gathering, or a time to simply connect with others who understand your journey—you belong here. 💛

Here’s what we have coming up this month:

💬 Ladies Zoom

Saturday, May 9 | 10:00 AM

Our Ladies Zoom is a relaxed, supportive space for women in our community to connect, chat, and encourage one another. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with people who understand your world.

☀️ Positive Adults Support Group

Monday, May 18 | 12:00 PM

Our Positive Adults group is a consistent and welcoming space for individuals 18+ living with HIV. These weekly gatherings offer a place to share, listen, and connect with others who truly understand.

Come as you are—whether you feel like talking or just being present.

🌟 Lifetime Survivors

Wednesday, May 20 | 7:30 PM

This group is for those who have lived with HIV since birth or early childhood. It’s a powerful space filled with shared history, resilience, and understanding.

There’s something really special about being in a room (even a virtual one) with people who just get it.

💻 Creative Expressions Club (Zoom + Mailed Kit)

Tuesday, May 26 | 5:00–6:00 PM

Our Creative Expressions Club brings the fun right to your home! Participants receive a kit in the mail and then join us on Zoom to create together step-by-step.

It’s interactive, engaging, and perfect for kids and teens who love hands-on projects and being part of a group.

🎨 Creative Expressions (In-Person)

Thursday, May 28 | 11:00 AM

Join us at the REACH office for a relaxing and fun creative session! No artistic experience needed—just come ready to make something with your hands and enjoy time together.

Creative Expressions is all about:

  • Letting go of stress
  • Trying something new
  • Connecting through creativity

🤍 Young Moms Group

Thursday, May 28 | 12:00 PM

Right after Creative Expressions, our Young Moms group meets for connection, support, and real conversation.

Motherhood comes with so many layers—and you don’t have to navigate them alone. This space is here for encouragement, honesty, and community.

💛 You’re Always Welcome

At REACH, everything we do is centered around building meaningful connections and creating spaces where people feel safe, valued, and supported.

Whether it’s your first time joining or you’ve been part of REACH for years—we can’t wait to see you this month.

If you have any questions or want help getting connected, feel free to reach out anytime.

You can Contact Cecilia at: cbryan@reachministries.org or Pam at: pwenz@reachministries.org
Or call the office at: 253-383-1676

REACH welcomed 13 First-time Participants to Spring Getaway

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From Hesitation to Belonging: A Spring Getaway Story from REACH Ministries (Tacoma, WA)

“Meryl” and her tween child signed up for the Spring Getaway because a family friend invited them. Meryl and this friend have a long history with each other, and she trusted her friend wouldn’t steer her wrong… but she was concerned that REACH sounded like a religious non-profit and she hoped she wouldn’t be judged or feel out of place for not being religious. She signed up anyway, hoping for the best.

A few days later, Pam called Meryl requesting an intake phone call to start building a relationship in advance of the Getaway. During the usual overview spiel, Pam explained some of the nuances of REACH.
That we focus on fun and laughter to build bonds…
That we don’t talk about HIV from the front or in conversations outside of adult support groups because children might not know their status or their parents’ status…
That we are a Christian non-profit committed to not being preachy or pushy, and our volunteers and participants come from all backgrounds and give us consistently high scores for feeling 100% welcome…
Meryl interrupted, saying, “That makes me feel so much better! I was worried about that religious part!”

From the very first evening at the Getaway, Meryl participated full throttle. Running to get the middle spot in human tic tac toe, jokingly offering the worst possible advice in a game called “Reverse Advice,” prancing along doing the “caterpillar conga” with balloons cushioning her and her teammates’ abdomens. Her face radiated joy.

During our Closing Ceremony, Meryl stood up and shared with the whole group that she had never been in a group of people where she got consistently smiled at in such a sincere way. She couldn’t believe those smiles lasted all weekend. There were no cliques, only the feeling of being completely welcomed and embraced and… smiled at! Her voice quivered for a few of her sentences, but she pressed on, determined to express her appreciation.

It never gets old, seeing people experience the unconditional acceptance of the REACH community for the first time. They sense immediately they are in a judgment-free zone, a place of joy, filled with genuine smiles and listening ears.

*One week after the Getaway, Meryl let us know they were having “withdrawals.” She said they felt it as soon as they drove away from the venue on the last day of the Getaway, and it hasn’t subsided yet. We reminded her that she can join us for Zoom support groups twice a month, and the summer picnic and Labor Day Getaway will be here before we know it!

Circle of Hope Update: A Season of Growth at REACH

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Theme for 2026 Designed to Uplift People Living with HIV

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Drum roll please…

And the REACH theme for 2026 is… Rooted in Belonging!

These two words — Rooted. Belonging. — emerged as favorites because REACH embodies them in every interaction, event, and relationship.

When a new participant hesitantly logs into a support group for the first time. Or arrives at Getaway wondering if they’ll find real friends. Or nervously joins us for a holiday potluck with a bag of rolls in hand. Within moments, they know they belong. They know they have been unconditionally accepted as part of the REACH family.

What they might not realize yet, is that from this point forward, whatever the world hurls at them by way of judgment, jabs, isolation, rejection, or bullying… they can continue to put roots down deep into their REACH community and drink of the trust, joy, acceptance, and real friendship they find there. This is how REACH strengthens people living with HIV to flourish.

REACH isn’t flashy. Never has been! But for 31 years we have wrapped people up in belonging like it’s a warm blanket, and within that community of belonging they put down roots to grow and flourish.

New Friends with HIV that Immediately Feel like Old Friends

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By Pam Wenz, REACH Director of Family Services
In April, REACH did an intake phone call with “Lisa,” and she attended support groups on Zoom off and on in 2025, but with limited talking or sharing of her video. When 2026 arrived, Lisa had still never met any REACH staff or participants in the flesh. I suggested we should use Presidents Day to get together — I said I could pick her up and together we could drive to meet up with two other REACH women in her area. She was eager for this to happen.

Once the four of us were settled in the apartment kitchen, setting out snacks, coffee, and tea… I saw the power of how much people trust REACH. For the first hour I could barely get a word in edgewise with these three as they shared stories, backgrounds, experiences, foods, faiths… In passing, the topic of Acceptance* came up.

Once we were cozily settled on couches, I found a gap in the conversation and asked the women if they’d be willing to take turns sharing with one another how they were able to come to a place of acceptance with their HIV. Lisa shared first. Her answer wandered to many painful places in her life story, but never quite touched on Acceptance. When she was done, I said, “It sounds like you are still on your journey toward acceptance.” She nodded that this was true. Her new friends shared next, showing vulnerability as they described their journey toward acceptance.

At the end of our gathering, Lisa asked for the other women’s phone numbers, which they readily provided.

For the first time, she experienced the level of safety she needed to talk about her status.

For the first time, she has personal friendships with people who understand life with HIV.

*Acceptance is a common topic that people living with HIV reflect on. For many of them, the days following initial diagnosis of HIV is not characterized by acceptance of this new reality. Perhaps they feel denial, fear, panic, blame, or many other things. But acceptance usually comes more quietly. And quite a bit later.

REACH Partners — Combining Forces to Uplift People Living with HIV

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What REACH does in the Pacific Northwest (and beyond) for people living with HIV is unique. Offering an array of online support groups, featuring two affordable weekend getaways each year, maintaining a Christian foundation with a non-judgmental/all-are-welcome posture… we are proud of what we do. But we are just one piece of the puzzle, when it comes to people living with HIV leading flourishing lives! Of course they need excellent medical care, insurance navigators, social workers, prayer support, and case managers… this is why we celebrate the amazing partnerships we have in the community.

Did you know? REACH has…

  • 19 mutual referral partners – These are clinics, agencies, and organizations that refer their patients or clients to us. In turn, when we hear one of our participants mentioning a need (for insurance, housing, rental assistance, medication, case management, a new doctor, etc.) we refer them to one of our partners to meet that need.
  • 69 prayer groups and individuals that lift REACH families up every single week. They also cover our weekend events in 48-72 hours of prayer for protection, community, and impact.
  • 14 churches who support REACH with volunteers, facility use, and donations.

This week we celebrate a new community partnership with the Center for Multicultural Health — an organization in Seattle that has been serving people of African descent living with HIV in King County for as long as HIV has been around!

February at REACH: Connection, Creativity & Community

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February is all about connection, and at REACH Ministries we’re looking forward to a full month of meaningful gatherings—both on Zoom and in person. Whether you’re joining us for support, creativity, or conversation, there’s space for you here.

Below is what’s coming up this month. Mark your calendars and join us when you can—we’d love to see you.

💻 Positive Adults Support Group

Monday, February 9 | 12:00 PM | Zoom
Friday, February 27 | 12:00 PM | Zoom
A welcoming, supportive space for adults living with HIV to connect, share, and encourage one another.

💬 Lifetime Survivors Support Group

Wednesday, February 11 | 7:30 PM | Zoom
For long-term survivors—those born with or who acquired HIV early in life—this group offers understanding, shared experience, and community.

💕 Ladies Chat

Saturday, February 14 | 10:00 AM | Zoom
A relaxed and friendly gathering just for women to connect, chat, and support one another.

🎨 Creative Expressions

Tuesday, February 17 | 11:00 AM | REACH Office
Our in-person creative gathering where art becomes a tool for self-expression, stress relief, and connection. No experience needed—just come as you are.

📍 REACH Office:
310 N K St, Tacoma, WA 98403

🖍️ Creative Expressions Club (Youth)

Tuesday, February 24 | 4:00–5:00 PM | Zoom
A fun, interactive creative space for youth living with HIV or youth who have a caregiver living with HIV. Craft together, share, and build community from home.

We’re grateful to walk alongside you and to continue creating spaces where everyone feels safe, seen, and supported.

If you have questions about any event or want help getting connected, visit www.REACHministries.org or call 253-383-7616.

💗 We can’t wait to spend February with you—the REACH way.

February Events  

February EventsFebruary Events Click here to Download PDF

Creative Expressions Club: Creating, Connecting, and Crafting Together

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Creative Expressions Club is a monthly space where youth can create, connect, and just be themselves—no pressure, no expectations, just art and community.

This club is for youth who are living with HIV and for youth who have a parent or caregiver living with HIV. It’s a welcoming, affirming space where young people can show up exactly as they are and know they belong.

Each month, every participant receives a Creative Expressions Club box in the mail, filled with all the supplies needed for that month’s project. From the moment the box arrives, it’s a little reminder that they’re part of something—that someone is thinking about them and excited to create together.

On the last Tuesday of every month, we come together on Zoom to open our boxes, work on the project, and chat along the way. Some kids dive right into crafting, some take their time, and others enjoy listening and being present. There’s no right or wrong way to participate.

While our hands are busy creating, conversations naturally unfold—about school, hobbies, pets, favorite shows, and life in general. The art gives us something to do together, and the connection grows organically from there.

Creative Expressions Club is about more than just crafts. It’s about:

  • Building confidence through creativity

  • Creating consistency and routine

  • Offering connection in a relaxed, joyful way

  • Making sure youth feel seen, included, and valued

Interested in joining?
Do you have a child who might enjoy being part of Creative Expressions Club? We’d love to hear from you. Fill out our interest form to learn more and get started. A member of our team will follow up with next steps.

🎨✨ One box, one project, one connection at a time.

Creative Expressions Club

*This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission.