SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – For more than three decades, the Friends of Dorothy House in Syracuse has offered home‑based care, support and dignity to people living with AIDS. But once a month, the house opens its doors at the All Saints Roman Catholic Church for something just as meaningful: a community dinner that brings together longtime volunteers, returning guests, and first‑time visitors looking for connection.
At this month’s gathering, the dining room filled quickly, plates were passed out, conversations sparked and strangers became neighbors over shared food.
For some attendees, the dinner is a reminder of what a community can look like when people choose to show up for one another.
“Any time you have an opportunity to break bread with a stranger, you get to learn something about where you live, who you’re sharing space with and see the world through somebody else’s eyes,” said Caitlin Macseamus, who was a first‑time attendee.
Syracuse has one of the highest poverty rates in the United States and health challenges like HIV often hit hardest where resources are limited. That’s why the monthly dinners aren’t just tradition. It’s a lifeline for people who still struggle to find consistent care and community.
Some attendees have been coming for years, finding comfort in a space that feels both familiar and urgently needed.
“It’s kind of what keeps you alive in these dark times,” Albrecht Diem said. “With all the terrible things going on politically, here you’re among like‑minded people. And on the other hand, such a wonderfully diverse group.”
Even as medical treatments for HIV and AIDS have improved, many community members say stigma remains a daily reality.
“There’s still a stigma that’s around it, and it’s probably always going to be around it because that’s the way it started,” Michael Castler said. “Sometimes it’s hard to change the way history sees things.”
Volunteers prepare the meals, greet guests and share stories from the early days of the house. The dinners are a reminder that the fight against stigma isn’t over, but neither is the community that formed in response.
Michael DeSalvo, a co‑founder of the Friends of Dorothy House, says that’s exactly why these dinners matter. They’re not just meals, they act as reminders of a history that can’t be forgotten.
“A lot of people are disconnected and have no clue today,” he said. “When we lose history, when we think something isn’t really relevant anymore like HIV, the danger to that is very real. We need to keep people aware, and we need to continue to fight for rights for everyone.”
For more than 30 years, the Friends of Dorothy House has provided care, comfort and a sense of belonging to people living with AIDS. And as the monthly dinners continue, DeSalvo says the mission remains the same: to create a space where no one has to face illness or isolation alone.
In a city where many struggle to access care, the Friends of Dorothy House remains a safety net.