During the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, there was no local or federal government support, so the community came together to provide donations to help people living with HIV. That’s when “Jars in Bars” was first created. Lenny Larson started “Lenny’s Jars," as he decorated jars and placed them in grocery stores and bars around the city for Seattleites to donate any spare change.
Madison Pub, in Capitol Hill, was one of the initial participants in this type of fundraising campaign. Roland, who became the owner of Madison Pub back in 2010, has worked at the bar since 1992.
“It’s kind of gone through an evolution over the years. For a while, AIDS was more of an unfunded epidemic, so you needed all the help and money you could get,” said Roland.
In the 80s and 90s, Roland explained how everyone in the LGBTQ community was trying to contribute in some way because people could see how needed it was.
“It was like right when people got diagnosed with HIV, they would need to start making funeral arrangements, cash in life-insurance, and try to have a couple of good times. Now, it’s a different experience to get diagnosed with HIV than it was back then.”
While HIV is no longer a death sentence, the HIV community still needs critical support services. For an individual living with HIV to reach their best possible health, they need access to stable housing and healthy food, and Lifelong is that safety net for them.
We have always been an organization who stands in the gap for the most marginalized communities, and we will continue to do so with the goal of reaching health equity for all the clients we serve.
With the help of local bars like Madison Pub, we are bringing back Jars in Bars for the holiday season. By contributing to Lifelong, you are playing an active role in helping us reach the last 10% of individuals who are undiagnosed and without treatment.
In addition to Madison Pub, Crescent Lounge, Re-Bar, and Lumber Yard are participating in our revival of Jars in Bars.