NORFOLK, Va. - It often seems like the most vulnerable communities have the most difficult time finding proper resources and supplies -- not to mention during a pandemic.
However, since March, Hampton Roads has seen state and local partners join together to hand out PPE to everyone who needs it. Dozens of people gathered at Queen Street Baptist Church on Saturday to receive free COVID-19 tests, hand sanitizer, masks and bags of food.
The event was part of the state's Health Equity Pilot Program. The program was established by Governor Ralph Northam in May as a state-local partnership focused on increasing equitable access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and public health information in underserved and historically disadvantaged communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
To date, over 500,000 cloth masks and 420,000 bottles of hand sanitizer have been distributed to over 35 localities statewide.
"We're continuously providing food to the community to make sure that everyone in the quadrant is taken care of and it's very accessible to everyone," said Calvin Bailey, a registered nurse with the Health Ministry for the Queen Street Baptist Church. "We are here for them even before, during and after this pandemic."
There was also a food distribution site and mobile food pantry at the Banks of Berkley Apartments on Saturday.
Click here for further details on the program.
