FORT PIERCE FOLKS
The Lord’s Messenger
52
BY GREG GARDNER
The fearless general leading the
war to prevent the spread of
HIV/AIDS on the Treasure
Coast is an outspoken grandmother
of 12 known as “Sister Hazel.”
Hazel Hoylman takes to some of
the mean streets in St. Lucie, Indian
River, Martin and Okeechobee counties,
driving a converted ambulance as
she educates people on how to avoid
HIV/AIDS and encourages confidential
testing — with on-the-spot results
available in 15 minutes. It used to take
two weeks for results, and most people
would disappear after being tested and
never see the results.
After eight years working for the
St. Lucie County Health Department,
including field work to prevent the
spread of tuberculosis, Hoylman left in
2001 to form the nonprofit In the Image
of Christ Inc., which provides education
programs and food and clothing
banks. She is also a pastor of House of
Prayer for all People and is in charge of
St. Lucie County’s cold weather shelter.
“Servicing people is my heart,” says
Hoylman as she waits for Jack’s Food
Pantry to open at the old hospital site
on Seventh Street in Fort Pierce. “Everything
we do is free. The people shop
and pick food off the shelves themselves.
They take it home and cook dinner
and breakfast. We purchase food
from the Treasure Coast Food Bank
and people donate.”
Following a recent heavy winter
rain, 14 people spent the night at the
shelter. The 30-cot shelter also opens
when the temperature is expected to
drop below 49 degrees. The organization
staffs the shelter during the rainy
weather while the Red Cross helps out
in the cold weather.
Three years ago Hoylman came to
St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris
Dzadovsky to see about a vehicle for
HIV/AIDS mobile testing and education.
Shortly afterward, In the Image
of Christ received an old ambulance
from the St. Lucie County Fire District.
“She’s the Energizer Bunny,” says Dzadovsky.
“I’ve never seen someone with
so much energy and passion for life
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GREG GARDNER
“Sister Hazel” Hoylman oversees Jack’s Food Pantry at the Fort Pierce headquarters of In the Image of
Christ on Seventh Street. Through the support of donations from the community, more than 600 people
a month receive free food through the Brothers and Sisters Without Walls.