PHILADELPHIA One of the founders of MANNA, a renowned Philadelphia AIDS organization, has chronicled his experiences in a new book.

"MANNA in the Wilderness of AIDS: Ten Lessons in Abundance," by Kenwyn Smith contains many vignettes and insights about the growth that comes from serving others.

"The greatest teachers in my life so far have been people living with AIDS," Smith said. "What I have learned from being with them is far greater than the cumulative insights I have gleaned from all the books I read and all the courses Ie taken."

Smith said the spirit of volunteerism is vital, especially in today society, because everyone seems lost. He tells the story of how a small group of people was able to make a difference in the AIDS community and in their own lives. "The volunteers at MANNA had such profound experiences that they look at the world through different eyes," Smith said. "Giving is contagious."

MANNA, the Metropolitan AIDS Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance, has grown from serving a few meals a day to almost 500,000 meals a year to people living with AIDS in the greater Philadelphia area. "It has 1,000 volunteers, an annual operating budget of more than $2.5 million and cares for people from all walks of life," said Greg Goldman, MANNA current executive director.

Kenwyn Smith had been the chair of the first board of directors from 1990-96. He is an organizational psychologist who serves on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. His best known books are "Groups in Conflict: Prisons in Disguise" and "Paradoxes of Group Life," coauthored with David N Berg.