The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Project aims to address health inequities
Volunteers hope to prevent spread of coronavirus
MIDDLETOWN — Members of a local health coalition canvassed two apartment complexes handing out much-needed masks and hand sanitizer, as well as information on staying safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
Approximately 10 volunteers associated with The Middlesex County People of Color Health Initiative this week visited Rose Gardens and Stoneycrest apartments on Newfield Street.
Ann Percival is a member of the First Church Racial Justice team, which gathers at the 190 Court St. church, as is Susan Glass, another volunteer. The evening ran for about 90 minutes.
“It was fun. People were so tickled to get things. It reminded me of the FTD delivery person. Everybody is always so happy to get flowers,” Percival said.
“It was just such a high to be able to help people like this. The majority of people felt sanitizer was a real
prize, because that tends to be pricey,” she said.
One woman was so touched by the effort she made a donation to People of Color, Pervical said. “It was a reward in itself to go out there and see people,” she said.
Participants, who gathered first at Spencer Elementary School, broke into two groups of five and headed to the homes a half-mile away. Each person or family was given five reusable face coverings and two disposable ones.
So far, Pratt & Whitney has supplied 12,000 face coverings toward the effort.
EB Manufacturing of Middletown donated 700 masks and a box of hand sanitizers.
The initiative now involves 17 agencies and organizations, including the city health department, school system, police and city council, as well as Middlesex Health, the Middletown Chapter of the NAACP and the Ministerial Health Alliance Advocacy Coalition.
It is led by the Rev. Robyn Anderson of Middletown’s Cross Street AME Zion Church.
The goal of helping to create more positive outcomes for people of color led to the initiative, according to Middletown police Capt. Gary Wallace.
The group is composed of a broad cross-section of collaborators committed to addressing the disproportionate COVID-19 death rates among people of color in Middlesex County, according to its mission.
Wallace has been active in soliciting donations from area businesses, including FedEx, according to Lt. Dave Godwin. It’s still not easy to find masks in stores, Godwin said.
People of Color recently received a large gift from an anonymous person in
Cromwell. “He donated thousands and thousands of masks,” Godwin said.
Sean Mulligan, general manager of EB Manufacturing, helped distribute personal protective equipment, including donations from Edward Billings, owner of the Middle Street facility.
“He’s a very generous man,” Mulligan said. “As a company, we feel great to be able to give back to the community.”
Mulligan said he and Billings decided to participate after seeing Wallace’s post on Facebook. “It felt really good at the end of the night. For me, it was the right time and place,” Mulligan said.
“We go out and assist citizens every day, so for them to be safe and healthy is important to us,” Wallace said. “We have a vested interest in this initiative. We’re blessed to be a part of it, because it’s part of a larger picture.”
The department now is focusing on improving community relations.
“We care about the community,
we’re a part of it, and what happens to it. It isn’t us versus them — it’s all of us together,” Wallace said.
Anderson and volunteers are examining “policy changes, and laws that improve the lives of people of color are also looked at and changed, so health equity is something everyone can enjoy,” Wallace said.
The group is accepting donations of Visa/MasterCard gift cards for the purchase of necessities, grocery store gift cards, cloth and disposable face masks, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol and fragrance-free soap, as well as financial contributions for supplies.
To arrange a drop-off, contact the Rev. Robyn Anderson at 860-817-3330 or revrmanderson@gmail.com.
Checks may be made payable to: CSTAC-Ministerial Health Fellowship, with the note “FBO the Middlesex County COVID-19 POC Health Initiative” and mailed to Cross Street AME Zion Church, attention CSTAC-MHF Rev. Robyn Anderson, 440 West St., Middletown, CT 06457.
For information, visit mhfct.org.