Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There is no greater joy for a young woman than to have a healthy, happy baby - especially for an HIV-positive mother. The new child is a sign of life... a child of promise in a broken world.

However, there is no greater tragedy than a new mother unable to feed her child because her breast milk could pass on the virus that causes AIDS. The Mother's Got Milk Project helps meet this critical need.

SETAC's Mother's Got Milk Project means a new mother struggling with her own declining health can safely feed her newborn child. Your donation helps purchase the most critically needed item - powdered infant formula - for babies of HIV-positive mothers right here in Puerto Vallarta. The formula is prohibitively expensive for these families.

With your help, the SETAC Community Center's Got Milk Project will enable a young mother's greatest joy to continue. Her child will grow to be healthy and happy... a child of promise.

All you have to do to make a difference in a child's life is purchase any of the specified brands of powdered formula from one of the approved locations and drop it off at one of the participating businesses listed below.

With your donation, the project hopes to collect at least 500 cans of powdered formula during the campaign. What a chance to make a difference! It's exciting to get businesses from a cross section of venues within the community to come together for the same goal.

"We think the Mother's Got Milk Project is a great cause," SETAC community center director Paco Arjona stated. "I think it definitely benefits our community by raising awareness. It's important for people to understand the AIDS crisis continues, and affects people right here in Puerto Vallarta. Our goal is to build a free community center that's safe, friendly, and full of love and acceptance for anyone who comes through our doors."

Visit any of these approved locations to purchase the needed formula:

Farmacia Guadalajara

Nan Milk   Stage 1   900 gr   $214.20 pesos
Nan Milk   Stage 2   900 gr   $190.00
Enfagrow   Stage 1   900 gr   $348.70
Enfagrow   Stage 2   900 gr   $312.40

Costco

Nan Milk   Stage 1   900 gr (2 cans)   $345 pesos
Nan Milk    Stage 2   900 gr (2 cans)   $305
Enfagrow    Stage 3   900 gr (2 cans)   $389

WalMart

Nan Milk   Stage 1   400 gr   $98 pesos
Nan Milk   Stage 1   900 gr   $188
Nan Milk   Stage 2   400 gr   $88
Nan Milk   Stage 2   900 gr   $168
Enfagrow   Stage 3   400 gr   $153
Enfagrow   Stage 3   900 gr   $307
Enfagrow   Stage 3   1200 gr   $361

SETAC has set up the following local businesses as drop-off locations:

SETAC Centro Comunitario
Constitución #427
Colonia Emiliano Zapata
322-224-1974

A Page in The Sun
Lázaro Cárdenas #179
Colonia Emiliano Zapata
322-222-3608

El Sofa Café
Venustiano Carranza #333
Colonia Emiliano Zapata
322-223-8446

Pet Home
Constitución #287
Colonia Emiliano Zapata
322-113-0314

The Studio Tattoos
Constitución #347
Colonia Emiliano Zapata
322-222-0053

R.K. Supplement
Hotel Emperador
Amapas #114A
Colonia Emiliano Zapata
044-322-146-2435

Hotel Mercurio
Francisca Rodríguez #168
Colonia Emiliano Zapata
322-222-4793

With continued efforts such as the Mother's Got Milk Project, the SETAC Community Center offers the GLBT community, along with their families and friends, a variety of services meant to improve their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Creating a network between members of the GLBT and non-GLBT community allows opportunities for members to experience, learn and participate in the mutual development of our common community.

"We think the Mother's Got Milk Project is a great cause," Ed Thomas, the founder of the GLBT center stated. "I think it definitely benefits our community by raising awareness. It's important for people to understand the AIDS crisis continues and affects people right here in Puerto Vallarta. Our goal is to build a free community center that is safe, friendly, and full of love and acceptance for anyone who comes through our doors."

In addition to the Got Milk Project, which will run throughout the month of April, SETAC offers a variety of daily services. For example, the Center holds AA meetings, Spanish classes, HIV testing and counseling, Reiki and Chiropractic services. Condoms are always available by simply asking. There is a nutritionist on site on Fridays from 10 am to 1 pm, and movies are shown every Friday night at 7:30 pm. All are welcome.

The purpose of the SETAC Puerto Vallarta Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Community Center, located at Constitucion #427 on the corner of Manuel Dieguez, is to provide essential services to the GLBT community, including support in recovery from alcoholism and other afflictions, physical and mental health treatment and referrals, education and recreation in an atmosphere of safety, free from discrimination. For more information, contact Javier Gallegos at (322) 224-1974 or javisetac(at)gmail.com.

Click HERE to learn more about Centro Comunitario SETAC-GLBT.