Tag Archive for: living with HIV

October at REACH: A Month of Connection, Creativity & Community

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Fall is here, and October is bringing another full month of connection at REACH Ministries!

At REACH, we know that community can look different for everyone. Sometimes it means gathering with people who understand an experience that can be difficult to explain to others. Sometimes it means sitting around a table creating something together. Sometimes it’s logging onto Zoom from the comfort of home just to see familiar faces. And sometimes it’s gathering around a campfire, sharing a meal, laughing together, and remembering that you belong.

This October, we’re making space for all of it.

Throughout the month, we’ll have support groups, Creative Expressions gatherings, online activities for kids and teens, our Ladies Zoom Chat, and one very special evening at Miracle Ranch for our 2026 Circle of Hope Dinner.

Positive Adults Support Group

Our Positive Adults Support Group will meet twice this month on Zoom:

Wednesday, October 7 at 7:30 PM – Hosted by Cecilia
Monday, October 19 at 12:00 PM – Hosted by Pam

This group is a welcoming and confidential space for adults 18 and older living with HIV to connect with others who understand.

There is never pressure to have the right words or to share more than you’re comfortable sharing. Some days you may want to talk, and other days you may simply want to listen and know that you’re surrounded by people who get it.

Whether you’re new to REACH or have been part of our community for years, there is a place for you here.

Creative Expressions at the REACH Office

Thursday, October 15 at 11:00 AM
REACH Office

Creative Expressions is back in person this month!

Creative Expressions gives members of our community an opportunity to slow down, create, talk, laugh, and spend time together. You don’t need to consider yourself an artist, and you don’t need any special creative experience.

The goal isn’t to create a masterpiece. The goal is to enjoy the process and the people you’re creating alongside. This is meant for adults, kids are welcome. Let us know if you are bringing little ones so we can have some games to entertain them while we craft or an easier craft for them.

Come ready to make something, connect with others, and enjoy a relaxing morning at REACH.

Circle of Hope 2026: An Immersive Camp Experience

Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30 PM
Miracle Ranch, Port Orchard

This year’s Circle of Hope is going to look a little different—and we couldn’t be more excited about it.

Instead of our traditional Circle of Hope gathering, we’re inviting our friends, partners, volunteers, supporters, and community members to experience a little bit of what makes REACH camp so meaningful.

We’re heading to Miracle Ranch, where REACH’s family camp story began nearly 30 years ago, for an Immersive Camp Experience.

Guests are encouraged to dress like they’re going camping! We’ll gather for dinner, fellowship, and an opportunity to hear more about where REACH is today and where we’re headed next.

Most importantly, you’ll hear directly from members of the REACH community who are willing to share their stories of resilience, connection, and what having a community like REACH has meant in their lives.

And because it wouldn’t be camp without a little fun, we’ll end the evening outside with a campfire, s’mores, warm beverages, and a chicken and goat roundup.

Circle of Hope is also an opportunity for us to say thank you. REACH exists because of an incredible network of families, volunteers, referral partners, healthcare providers, community organizations, donors, and friends who believe people living with HIV deserve a community free from judgment and stigma.

We would love to have you there.

Ready to join us?
RSVP for the Circle of Hope 2026 Dinner

Lifetime Survivors Support Group

Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30 PM
Zoom

Our Lifetime Survivors Support Group is specifically for individuals who have been living with HIV since birth or early childhood.

There is something powerful about connecting with people who share experiences that few others fully understand. This group provides space for conversation, shared history, resilience, encouragement, and understanding.

You are welcome to participate as much—or as little—as feels comfortable.

Creative Expressions Club

Tuesday, October 27 from 5:00–6:00 PM
Zoom + Mailed Activity Kit

Our online Creative Expressions Club brings the fun of creating together right into your home! This club is for children HIV+ or children with HIV+ caregivers.

We’ll mail participants an activity kit ahead of time, and then everyone can log onto Zoom to create together. It’s interactive, hands-on, and a fun way for kids and teens to connect with others in the REACH community—even when we can’t all be in the same room.

Opening that box is only the beginning. The best part is logging on and seeing everyone else ready to create alongside you!

Be sure to RSVP early enough for us to prepare and mail your kit.

New? Register your child here: REGISTRATION FORM

Ladies Zoom Chats

Saturday, October 31 at 9:30 AM
Zoom

We’re closing out October with our Ladies Zoom Chat!

This is a relaxed and supportive space for women in the REACH community to connect, catch up, encourage one another, and simply enjoy being together.

Grab your coffee, tea, breakfast—or whatever your Saturday morning looks like—and join us from home.

There’s a Place for You at REACH

Living with HIV can sometimes feel isolating, particularly when stigma makes it difficult to know where it is safe to talk openly.

That’s one of the reasons community is at the heart of REACH.

Whether you’re coming to a support group for the first time, opening a Creative Expressions kit with your child, reconnecting with friends you’ve known through REACH for years, or joining us at Miracle Ranch to learn more about our community, we want you to know there is a place for you here.

October is filled with opportunities to connect. We hope you’ll join us for one—or several!

For more information about any October event or to RSVP, contact:

Cecilia Bryan
Community Engagement & Events Manager
Email: cbryan@reachministries.org
Phone: 253-383-7616

Visit REACH Ministries to learn more about our programs and community.

Connection. Creativity. Community. That’s October at REACH.

October 2026 Events at REACH

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.

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.

November at REACH: Connection, Creativity, and Community

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As the holidays approach, we’re looking forward to a month filled with warmth, gratitude, and opportunities to connect! Whether you join us in person or online, November offers something for everyone in our REACH family — from shared meals to creative projects and heartfelt conversations.

Here’s what’s happening this month:

🍂 Saturday, November 15 | 5–7 PM
Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner – REACH Office Building
Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Potluck! Bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy an evening of community, gratitude, and laughter. Everyone is welcome — families, volunteers, and friends old and new. RSVP Here: https://form.jotform.com/252786488028168

💬 Monday, November 17 | 12:00 PM (Zoom)
Positive Adults Support Group
A supportive space for HIV-positive adults to connect, share experiences, and build community from wherever they are.

🎨 Wednesday, November 19 | 11:00 AM – REACH Office
Creative Expressions: Wooden Signs Workshop
Join us in the office for this month’s Creative Expressions session! We’ll be making personalized wooden signs — a fun, hands-on activity to express creativity and unwind.

🌿 Wednesday, November 19 | 7:30 PM (Zoom)
Lifetime Survivors Support Group
For those who were born or have lived with HIV since early childhood. This group offers understanding, encouragement, and meaningful discussion.

👶 Tuesday, November 25 | 11:00 AM – REACH Office
Moms with Young Kids Support Group
A relaxed, supportive gathering for moms raising young children while navigating the challenges of HIV or caregiving. Kids welcome!

🌈 Wednesday, November 26 | 4–5 PM (Zoom)
Teen Creative Expressions Group (Ages 12–19)
Our very first Creative Expressions for Teens! We’ll meet on Zoom to make a fun craft together — supplies will be shipped directly to participants. Open to youth ages 12–19, whether they are HIV-positive or not.

If you have a teen or know someone who would enjoy joining, please contact us soon so we can send their art kit in time!

November is all about connection — and we’re so grateful for every person who makes REACH the supportive, welcoming community it is.

September at REACH: Connection, Support, and Creativity

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Each month at REACH we gather in different ways — some online, some in person — to connect, share, and create. September’s schedule has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for support, community, or a little creative time with others check out our events below.

🌟 Positive Adults – Zoom

📅 Monday, September 22 at Noon
This monthly group is for adults living with HIV since their teens or later. It’s a place to check in, share experiences, and find encouragement with people who understand the journey firsthand.

🌟 Lifetime Survivors – Zoom

📅 Wednesday, September 24 at 7:30 PM
Our Lifetime Survivors group is for individuals born with HIV or who acquired it in early childhood. These monthly gatherings are a chance to connect with peers who share similar life experiences and to build community together.

🌟 Creative Expression – At the Office

📅 Tuesday, September 30 at 11:00 AM
This month’s Creative Expression project is Keychains with Meaning. We’ll provide beads, charms, and even shrink-plastic art (yes — Shrinky Dinks are back!). Add a word, sketch, or symbol that speaks to you and turn it into something you can carry with you every day.

And of course, we’ll have coffee and snacks while we create together.

💜 How to Get Involved

  • To join our Zoom groups (Positive Adults & Lifetime Survivors):
    Contact Pam
    📧 Email: pwenz@reachministries.org
    📱 Text: 541-612-0616
    ☎️ Call: 253-383-7616

  • For Creative Expression:
    Contact Cecilia
    📧 Email: cbryan@reachministries.org
    📱 Text: 385-208-1303
    ☎️ Call: 253-383-7616

 

September Events flyer

Labor Day Getaway: Resilience shines despite HIV stigma

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At Labor Day Getaway, the warmth of REACH embraced eight new attendees and three new volunteers. As always, we could see our community in a fresh light through their eyes. Somehow, in a balance difficult to achieve, long-time friends excitedly caught up with each other and new participants were joyfully welcomed.

Here are a few snapshots:

  • A teen coming off a difficult year, found the strength to sing a solo in front of everyone. Her bravery came from the moral support of one friend and one volunteer doing “interpretive dance” on either side of the stage to take the spotlight off her. All three performers were wildly entertaining. Two in the silliest ways, and one in a sincere heartfelt way.
  • A mom still reeling from recent traumas plus the daily stresses of life gravitated toward a young adult she could encourage and befriend. They even shared the same heart language.
  • A tween arrived glowering and departed smiling and giving hugs.
  • Five young children became the best of friends. Staff and REACH parents giggled when the kids would say, That’s my brother.” “Hey, sister!” and “Those are my kids over there.” Yes, the 3-year-old dubbed the slightly older children her “kids.”
  • At her third consecutive REACH Getaway, a young mom felt safe enough to share a brief, timid glimpse into the dark times in her past and how she sees so much more life and hope now. She had told us previously that she wanted to share more but was not ready. What a privilege to earn her trust.

A first-time participant told us, “It is good to find a family.”
A single adult said, “Sharing our experience was a relief to me. I was so comfortable to say anything without being judged.”
A teen said, “I am new here. It was perfect. I’ve learned to be resilient.”

New Labor Day Getaway Location

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Our REACH community is growing, as more and more people living with HIV join us. And we found a new Labor Day Getaway location that’s just the right size! It’s still in the “north of Seattle” region, but will be a brand new experience.

REACH staff visited the venue for an in-depth tour last week and got even more excited than we were before. The camp staff can’t wait to welcome REACH participants, and they share a similar heart for creating spaces for everyone to be accepted and flourish.

Whether you’re a potential volunteer or potential guest, we hope you’ll join us August 29-September 1! We will certainly be welcoming many first-timers and it will be a special year of Getaway.

March Events at REACH: Connection, Creativity, and Community

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Spring is right around the corner, and we’re embracing the season of renewal, connection, and growth with a lineup of events designed to support, uplift, and inspire! Whether you’re looking for a space to share, create, or retreat, March has something for everyone in the REACH community.

Mark Your Calendar!

📅 Friday, March 14
👩‍👧 Young Moms Group | 10:00 AM | In-Person
A welcoming space for young mothers to connect, share experiences, and find support.

💙 Positive Adult Support Group | 12:00 PM | Zoom
A virtual space for adults living with HIV to gather, share, and encourage one another in a judgment-free setting.

📅 Wednesday, March 19
📱 Teens Zoom Group | 6:00 PM | Zoom
A relaxed, fun, and safe space for teens to chat, share, and support each other. New faces are always welcome!

📅 Thursday, March 20
🎨 Creative Expressions | 11:00 AM | In-Person
Tap into your creativity with this hands-on event! Whether it’s painting, writing, or crafting, this is your time to express yourself in a supportive space.

📅 Wednesday, March 26
🌿 Lifetime Survivors Support Group | 7:30 PM | Zoom
For those who have lived with HIV for many years, this group offers a space to reflect, connect, and navigate life’s journey together.

📅 Friday, March 28 – Sunday, March 30
🏕️ Spring Getaway | 5:30 PM Friday – Noon Sunday
One of our biggest events of the season! A weekend retreat filled with laughter, relaxation, and meaningful connections. Whether you’re coming for the fun, the friendships, or the fresh air, this is a weekend to recharge and reconnect.

Join Us!

If you’re interested in attending any of these events, reach out for more details! We can’t wait to see you this March as we continue to build connections, break stigma, and support one another.

👉 Need more info? Contact us at cbryan@reachministries.org or pwenz@reachministries.org

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