[Church of St. Luke in the Fields – Press Release] Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash has written a previously unreleased track entitled “Jim and George,” now available for download exclusively through the Church of St. Luke in the Fields here. 

Cash discussed “Jim and George” at St. Luke’s 2^nd annual “Feed Your Soul” benefit auction and Mardi Gras dinner Feb. 12.

All proceeds of the music sales and auction will benefit the outreach programs at St. Luke’s: The People Living with AIDS project, which provides a weekly meal, spiritual counsel (optional), and fellowship for clients living with HIV/AIDS, and “The Church”: Art, Acceptance and a Place to Be Yourself for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning Youth and their Allies, which provides a safe haven for LGBTQA street youth under the age of 21.

In describing her inspiration for “Jim and George,” Cash said: “as a longtime supporter and member of the St. Luke’s community, I am so happy and humbled to offer this track to help benefit the outreach programs at St. Luke’s. I wrote this song about an elderly gay couple in Chelsea who were very dear to me, and it was an exercise in compassion and awareness to see myself through their eyes, and them through my eyes. Love is love, and love doesn’t contain itself within arbitrary borders of gender, orientation, race, nationality, creed or age. Love is love, and I send as much as I can to the outreach programs and the entire St. Luke’s community.”

About the outreach programs at St. Luke in the Fields:

The People Living with AIDS Project (PLWA) was founded in 1987 in response to the AIDS epidemic, and currently offers a five course sit-down meal each Saturday evening to 60-70 guests afflicted with the HIV/AIDS virus. Many participants attend the dinners not only to fuel their bodies, but also to discuss distressing issues and improve the quality of their lives. St. Luke’s has also recently established a visiting program at the historic Bailey-Holt House, where volunteers seek to break isolation and provide friendship for residents living with HIV and AIDS. The PLWA Project is one of New York City’s most recognized and historic help/humanitarian organizations with many prominent New Yorkers in support.

“The Church” provides a safe haven for LGBTQA street youth under the age of 21. The young homeless flock to “The Church” since they see it as an opportunity to participate in arts programs, and receive a warm meal in an accepting environment. While the arts program gets participants in the door, the effects reach much farther. Many teens that come to “The Church” have been kicked out of their homes by their families, or have been subjected to verbal, physical, or sexual abuse. “The Church” not only provides compassion and a supportive environment, but it helps refer teens to hospitals or other mental health programs that they might not have walked into alone without a helping hand, and other resources including job training and resume writing. St. Luke’s sees this harm-reduction program as HIV prevention in and of itself, and it also offers HIV testing and counseling by Callen-Lorde, Harlem United, Roosevelt Hospital and other partners.

More information and a brief film about the outreach programs at St. Luke’s can be found here.