Author: Phil

Photo Credit: Kelly Burkhardt

Philadelphia, PA – February 2025 – Philly AIDS Thrift is thrilled to announce the distribution of $358,085 in grants to 34 non-profit organizations and programs centered on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support in the Delaware Valley.

“This is by far my favorite moment of the entire year! To be able to have such a profound impact on programs that are doing tremendous work on behalf of individuals and communities impacted by HIV/AIDS across the Delaware Valley is truly humbling,” says Philly AIDS Thrift’s Board President, Michael Byrne. “This year’s grants push us to an extraordinary milestone: over 5 million dollars donated to the cause since our inception. We are forever grateful for our staff, our volunteers, our donors, and our loyal customers – thank you sincerely from the bottom of our hearts!”

Philly AIDS Thrift’s Executive Director and Cofounder, Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou, adds, “It is amazing to all of us that we have reached this monumental milestone. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly every day to ensure we can make the biggest difference possible in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. We could not do it without our generous donors and enthusiastic shoppers.” Philly AIDS Thrift welcomes donations of gently used items all year round, transforming them into proceeds for future grants and continued community impact.

Philly AIDS Thrift’s Grant Program began in 2014 to expand its services to the community. Since then, it has grown exponentially, awarding over 250 grants to more than 50 organizations. Even amidst economic challenges, the grant program has maintained its commitment to funding essential services in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The support provided by these grants is more vital than ever in ensuring the resilience and well-being of affected communities.

Media Articles about the grants and milestones! Thank you to all of the media outlets who shared this wonderful news!

Billy Penn at WHYY – https://billypenn.com/2025/03/06/philly-aids-thrift-5-million-donations-milestone/

MyChesCo – https://www.mychesco.com/a/news/regional/philly-aids-thrift-surpasses-5-million-in-donations-awards-358085-in-grants/

Metro Philadelphia – https://metrophiladelphia.com/philly-aids-thrift-donations/

PGN – https://epgn.com/2025/02/18/philly-aids-thrift-surpasses-5-million-in-donations/

To see all the 2025 grant recepients: visit https://www.phillyaidsthrift.com/about/

Stevie Laney is a Philadelphia muralist, painter, and volunteer, who you can find helming the registers at the Philly AIDS Thrift. Visitors may recognize her Grace Jones mural, which she recently completed in-store. She has also painted the exteriors of a number of storefronts in and around Queen Village, including Gerber Accounting & Tax Services, and the South Street Art Mart, where she works full-time.

Laney has also, of late, added “publisher” to her extensive CV. She has recently launched Very, a glossy magazine of erotic art, which she hopes will offer an outlet for artists exploring the full range of that most enticing subject: the good ol’ human form. We talked to Laney about falling in love with Philly AIDS Thrift, narrowly avoiding an Instagram ban, and creating a new forum of erotic art in Philly.

more “Meet Stevie Laney” …

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you!

 

Name: Kirby

How long have you been with Philly AIDS Thrift?
Since February, I think.

What’s your favorite thing you bought here?
A Lord of the Rings box set on DVD – Extended edition!

What’s the #1 top played song on your iPod?
I can’t be honest since it’s not necessarily appropriate. LOL You’re writing it down? It’s called Dopesmoker by Sleep.

Now, how do you pass these long summer days?
I watch a lot of Star Trek Next Generation.

The movies or the series?
Both. Everything about Star Trek is beautiful and God-given. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it’s inspired!

Have you ever said no when offered pizza?
Only once, and then I ate it anyway.

What were the circumstances?
It was right after I started my diet. I went to my friends house and they had it. They were like, “Do you want some?” and I was like “Nah!” and then I ate it.

Have you ever willingly chosen to listen to Nickelback?
Do I have to be honest about that?

Yes.
This is when I was in the eighth grade. I was in a very sheltered home. The lead singer looks like an ugly boy-band version of Nicholas Cage. Everyone in my highs school listened to then.

Do you consider “K” a valid response when texting?
No. If you can’t at least put an “O” in front of it, you’re an idiot.

Do you sleep with the closet door open or closed?
My closet doors don’t really want to stay closed.

So do you get them to stay closed some how?
No. I’m apathetic about closet doors and whether they are opened or closed. If the closet really wants to be open, it’ll be open.

What is the most rewarding thing about being at Philly AIDS Thrift?
It benefits people. And I believe that we should only do work that benefits people. You see, right now I’m cleaning the floor and that benefits somebody. I don’t know who, but somebody.

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you!

 

Name: Brooke

How long have you been with Philly AIDS Thrift?
About two and a half years.

What keeps you coming back to our store?
I just think that it’s a really awesome place to work because I get to wear whatever I want and I have a group of people who support me in their own way. And even though I’m not so direct in helping people, the work I’m doing is going to help people living with HIV/AIDS in the Philadelphia area. Sometimes I think about it and am like “that’s awesome.”

What’s your favorite thing you bought here?

essay

I just bought some really cool birds that I hung on my wall and it looks really…dope!

What’s the #1 top played song on your iPod?
Probably El-P, El Producto.

And how do you pass these long summer days?
I try to go swimming, I grill…try to hang out with friends and the beach.

Which beach do you go to?
I’ve been going to Atlantic City a lot lately. It’s free and it’s the closest. It’s so East.

Now, is there a certain chore you hate doing?
Dusting. Cleaning the bathrooms. Both of those things.

Do you still watch cartoons?
On occasion. Bob’s Burgers.

Ah! Favorite character?
Tina!

(We both did the Tina noise together.)

Tell me how you felt when you heard the news that Pluto was demoted as a planet.
I didn’t feel. I felt nothing.

Well I suppose apathy is a feeling.
Do you have a worst enemy?
Ohh…Tough questions. I don’t really have one.
Dust.

What keeps you coming back to Philly AIDS Thrift?
The people, the amazing clothing selections. More the people.

 

 

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you!

 

Name: Emma

How long have you been with Philly AIDS Thrift?
Three years? Four years? I think three and a half. 3.72.

What keeps you coming back to our store?
I just think that it’s a really awesome place to work because I get to wear whatever I want and I have a group of people who support me in their own way. And even though I’m not so direct in helping people, the work I’m doing is going to help people living with HIV/AIDS in the Philadelphia area. Sometimes I think about it and am like “that’s awesome.”

What’s your favorite thing you bought here?
That’s really hard. I have this pair of Lilly Pulitzer vintage men’s shorts that I don’t wear that often, but whenever I do, I have the best day.

Now, how do you pass these long summer days?
Oh you know, lots of iced coffee, lots of watermelon.

At the same time?
Yeah, you know…double fisting. Thinking about the next time I’m going swimming and lots of hanging out with friends.

What’s the #1 top played song on your iPod?
Probably the Chain by Fleetwood Mac.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An astronaut.

How old is the oldest cell in your body?
Don’t they recycle every seven years?

I don’t know. You tell me. No Google!
Eleven years? Am I right? Somewhere between seven and twenty-two.

What’s a saying that you say a lot?
“Chill dawg!”

Can you taste the difference between Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi?
Yeah.

And which do you prefer.
I don’t like cola.

Well I think this interview is over!