Northwest Pennsylvania Rural AIDS Alliance was founded in 1991 and has brought their services to 13 counties throughout the northwest part of the state. Since then, they've expanded to include 12 north-central counties. In 2022, they are changing their name to PA Thrive Partnership and are continuing to bring hope and empowerment to those that need it.

This will be the second of four HIV testing events in 2021 organized by NWPA Pride Alliance, Northwest Alliance, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, City Of Erie, Erie Gay News, Dickey's BBQ, and more. Northwest Alliance will be conducting free and confidential using their new Mobile Testing Unit. Testing available to those 14 years of age and up with no parental consent required. We will use rapid testing using a finger prick, and results will be given after 2 minutes.

On June 27th, in honor of National HIV Testing Day, Northwest Alliance will be offering FREE and confidential HIV testing from 12pm-2pm before the Drive Your Pride parade. Northwest Alliance will be utilizing their new mobile HIV testing units, which will be parked in the Tom Ridge Environmental Center parking lot. Gift cards will be provided to anyone that gets tested. For more information, contact Emily Crofoot at ecrofoot@clarion.edu or (814) 454-3811.

On Tuesday, April 27th, from 5-8 pm, there will be a Mobile HIV Testing event at Perry Square using Northwest Alliances' new HIV mobile testing van. NWPA Pride Alliance, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, Erie Gay News, and The Northwest Alliance, together with Dickey's BBQ Pit, The City of Erie, and The Zone Dance Club, will be hosting a total of 4 testing events this year. Free HIV testing will be available to anyone 14 years of age and older using a rapid 2-minute test. Those who got tested were given a $5 Country Fair gift card and a coupon for a free sandwich at Dickies BBQ. If you are unable to attend the event and would like to set up a time to get tested, please contact Emily Crofoot at Ecrofoot@clarion.edu or (814) 454-3811.

On Tuesday October 13th a first of its kind Mobile HIV Testing event took place in the Liberty Plaza parking lot using the new HIV mobile testing van. This event was spearheaded by NWPA Pride Alliance, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, and The Northwest Alliance, together with Dickey's BBQ Pit and Transfamily of NW PA. Free HIV testing was available to anyone 14 years of age and older using a rapid 2 minute test. Those who got tested were given a $5 Country Fair gift card and a coupon for a free sandwich at Dickies BBQ. The organizers look forward to hosting similar events in 2021 and beyond. If you missed the event and would like to set up a time to get tested please contact Emily Crofoot at Ecrofoot@clarion.edu. Photos by Andrea Shaffer.

First time partnership between the Northwest PA Rural AIDS Alliance, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, NWPA Pride Alliance and Dickey's BBQ. Northwest Rural AIDS Alliance will be conducting free and confidential using their new mobile testing unit on Tuesday, October 13 from 6 to 8 PM in the parking lot at Dickey's BBQ in the Liberty Plaza, 3716 Liberty St, Erie PA. Testing is available to those 14 years of age and up with no parent consent required. Northwest PA Rural AIDS Alliance will use rapid testing using a finger prick and results will be given after 2 minutes.

Northwest Alliance's mobile HIV testing unit is now available for use! The High Impact Prevention team at Northwest Alliance has been providing 2 minute rapid HIV tests. We have 2 vehicles to provide testing in NW PA but with a focus on Erie for right now. HIV testing has decreased across the country due to the focus on COVID. HIV testing for the last 5 months or so has decreased so much across the country, and we believe we are going to see the increased need for it very soon. We are flexible with where we can park the unit and are hoping to build collaborations with organizations to either host testing events or be able to park and offer testing to neighborhoods, clients, etc. We do have 2 units, but only utilizing one right now. We are offering $5 Country Fair gift cards to those that would not normally get tested (homeless, youth, etc.) We weren't anticipating it to take off this quickly, but so far people have been extremely receptive. For more info, contact Emily Crofoot at ecrofoot@clarion.edu if your organization wants to collaborate on this important intiative.