The charity was being overwhelmed with new cases, especially of children who have lost their parents to the killer disease, STAR head Mrs. Carolyn Armstrong said yesterday.

AIDS orphans in Bermuda are expected to number several hundred in the next five years, she said.

She estimated there were currently more than 200 youngsters who had lost one or both parents to AIDS -- only a couple had the disease themselves.

She believed the number would double by the year 2000.

STAR (Supportive Therapy for AIDS Persons and their Relatives) was faced with dealing with both the financial and emotional side of AIDS orphans, she said.

There was also the issue of one parent being left on their own to look after the children after a mother or father died of AIDS, she noted.

"There are over 200 children now affected by AIDS -- very few have AIDS,'' she said. "We have children of primary school and high school age who have been affected.

"A lot of them have been absorbed into the extended family or adopted by Godparents -- thank God Bermuda has Godparents. Some are being looked after by their own siblings.'' Some had also been placed in foster care through Family Services and STAR, which acted as a resource base for foster families, she said.

STAR did not give cash to families affected by AIDS, but freely gave them food, clothing and medical supplies and helped them in various other ways, she said.

This was made possible thanks to STAR volunteers and donations from members of the community and groups like the Bermuda Quilters Guild, who yesterday donated four quilts to children affected by AIDS. Guild members embroidered each child's name on his or her quilt.

More volunteers were needed, said Mrs. Armstrong, urging anyone interested to sign up now.

QUILTS FOR KIDS -- The newly-formed Bermuda Quilters' Guild have decided to put their scraps of material to good use by making quilts for children who have AIDS or have lost parents to the killer disease. Yesterday they donated four of the quilts, embroidered with the child's name, to the support group for people with AIDS, STAR. Pictured (from left to right) are STAR vice president Mr. Alvin Wilson, quilter Mrs. Jean Gill, STAR executive Mrs. Joy Fubler and quilter Mrs. Patricia Cooper.