The Oasis Center, a Middletown shelter and support center for HIV-infected persons and their families, experienced extensive damage on Jan. 23 from an accidental flood. The Middletown press reported that the shelter is seeking financial assistance to renovate and reopen.
“The sprinkler system in the attic froze, and we know what happens when pipes freeze—they burst,” said Laris Pazmino, Director of Grants and Development for the Community Health Center. “The water went all the way down to the first floor. We have to replace some floors and carpets. Because we deal with people with compromised immune systems, we can’t take any chances with mildew or anything that could be growing there—the cleanup has to be thorough.”
The Community Health Center, a statewide nonprofit provider of health care, operates the Oasis Center to serve all members of the community, regardless of income. It maintains a staff of primary care providers and nurse care managers who take responsibility for helping to manage medical, dental, and mental care for HIV-positive persons.
Since the accident, which gutted the building and ruined most of its furnishings and all of its electronic equipment, the Oasis staff has moved to Meriden and some needy people are being treated on Ferry Street. The loss of the Oasis Center, however, interrupts the continuous stream of education and therapy that the center has provided to people living with HIV and AIDS since 1994.
“The Oasis Center offered one-on-one support, counseling, confidential testing, support groups, meals and food for folks who have trouble getting them, and support for families of people living with AIDS and HIV,” Pazmino said. “A lot of people call it their second home.”
Individuals who utilized the Oasis Center’s services participated in such activities as creative writing and art groups, ate meals and took medication together, received accurate health information about HIV and AIDS, and accessed support groups and case management services.
The Oasis Center is funded by government grants, that often do not offer a lot of extra money for repairs, according to Pazmino. Although insurance and the landlord will cover some of the repairs, the center needs to pay to replace some electronic equipment, including computers and televisions, that were destroyed in the flood.
“Computers, stereos, desks, TVs, floors, carpets [need to be replaced,” Pazmino said. She stressed that the center is committed to reopening as soon as possible.
“We are reaching out to the community,” she said.
The Wesleyan community raises money for the Oasis Center in the annual “frottage” party sponsored by ASHA (AIDS and Sexual Health Awareness), but no student group has yet responded to the flooding.
“As of yet, we don’t have a specific response,” said Gina Eichenbaum-Pikser ’05, a member of ASHA. “We hope our past and continued fund-raising will help them in rebuilding.”
Those interested in giving to Oasis can call Francis at (203) 237-2229 ext. 6054. Checks can be made payable to the Community Health Center with the note “Oasis,” and sent to the Community Health Center with attention to Larisa Pazmino, 635 Main St., Middletown, CT 06457. Pazmino can also be reached at (860) 347-6971 ext. 3661.
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