Press release from Brookdale Community College

In recognition of World AIDS Day, the Student Life Center at Brookdale Community College will offer free HIV testing at the Lincroft campus on Thursday, December 2.

All community members are invited to stop by between 10 am and 2 pm, enjoy complimentary refreshments and help fight for an “AIDS-free generation” during this event, a partnership with the Prevention Resource Network and Project REAL, an Asbury Park-based LGBTQ Youth Drop-In Center funded by the New Jersey Department of Health’s Division of HIV, STD and TB Services.

The confidential, rapid HIV tests will be administered by the Mobile Testing Unit of Prevention Resource Network, a federally funded community outreach program administered by the Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey. Results are available within 20 minutes.

Project R.E.A.L. team members will award $10 gift cards to the first 20 people to get tested, and raffle off a $25 gift card during the event. Information will also be available regarding disease prevention and the populations most severely impacted by HIV.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 16 percent of the more than 1.1 million Americans with HIV are unaware that they are infected. About 25 percent of new HIV infections occur between the ages of 13 and 24.

“Getting tested is the key to lowering the risk of infection in our community,” said Tank Teachworth, Health Educator with Project R.E.A.L. “We are thrilled to partner with Brookdale and help encourage students to take ownership of their health.”

The event will be held at Brookdale’s Student Life Center, 765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft. Parking is available in lots 7, 6 and 1. For more information email Tank Teachworth at ty.teachworth@vnahg.org or call Brookdale’s Office of Student Life and Activities at (732)224-2390.