Buyers' club list, December 2002.

AIDS Treatment News publishes a buyers' club list each December. For a short overview and introduction to the meaning, history, and services of these organizations, see AIDS Treatment News #309, December 18, 1998.

We focus on buyers' clubs specializing in HIV (we also included Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco, because of its extensive selection of supplements and excellent information about them). All the organizations listed below are nonprofit. Most can provide products by mail order. Most have fact sheets or other information, and some have a nutritionist or other expert available at certain times to answer questions. Some offer financial assistance with purchases if necessary. Most are open to the public, but some require membership (which may involve an annual fee, or be restricted geographically or in other ways). Call ahead for current information.

Arizona

Being Alive Buyers' Club

http://www.apaz.org/ (click "Buyer's Club")

[e-mail] or [e-mail]

1427 North Third St., Phoenix AZ 85004

602-253-2437x136 or x138, fax: [phone]

Travis Wright Memorial Buyers' Club Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation

http://www.saaf.org/ [e-mail]

375 S. Euclid Ave, Tucson AZ 85719

800-771-9054 or 520-628-7223

fax: [phone]; TTY: 800-367-8937

California

Rainbow Grocery Cooperative (20% PWA discount, with the Helping Hand card)

http://www.rainbowgrocery.coop/ (or http://www.rainbowgrocery.org/)

[e-mail]

1745 Folsom St., San Francisco CA 94103

415-863-0620

Colorado

Denver Buyers' Club

[e-mail]

1290 Williams St., Suite 102

Mailing address: P.O. Box 300339, Denver CO 80203-0339

303-329-9379, fax: [phone]

Bilingual Spanish/English TTY: through operator

District of Columbia

Carl Vogel Center

[e-mail]

1012 14th St. NW, Suite 700, Washington DC 20005

202-638-0750, fax: [phone]

Membership: annual cost $25 (includes a BIA test, reduced prices for massage and acupuncture, an educational symposium, a newsletter, and reduced prices for supplements).

The Carl Vogel Center now offers mental health services and treatment education.

Georgia

AIDS Treatment Initiatives

http://www.aidstreatment.org/[e-mail]

159 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE Suite 510, Atlanta GA 30308-3311

888-874-4845 or 404-659-2437 fax: [phone]

Massachusetts

Treatment Information Network's/Boston Buyers' Club

http://www.bostonbuyersclub.com/[e-mail]

Boston Living Center, 29 Stanhope St., 3rd Floor Boston MA 02116

800-435-5586, or 617-266-2223 fax: [phone]

New York

DAAIR (Direct Access Alternative Information Resources)

http://www.daair.org/email:[e-mail]

119 W 23rd St., Suite 404, New York, NY 10011

212-255-9280 fax: [phone]

Note: The largest buyers' club in the United States. Membership by sliding scale, $5, $10, or $25 per year; new members receive treatment information pack. Also, "Preventing and Managing Side Effects and HIV Symptoms" is available at http://www.daair.org (no membership required--click the Countering Toxicities button on the home page), or by mail by request if necessary.

Texas

Houston Buyers' Club

http://www.houstonbuyersclub.com/[e-mail]

3400 Montrose Blvd. #604, Houston TX 77006

800-350-2392 713-520-5288, fax: [phone]

Note: How to Manage Side Effects, a 48-page booklet by Lark Lands, Michael Mooney, Nelson Vergel, and others is available without charge. You can request a copy by phone, mail, or email.