Posted on by Brea

Volunteer Your Church To Provide Support For Vaccine Distribution

Local governments know that ensuring the public can get vaccinated quickly and effectively will be a whole-of-society effort — including our churches.  Therefore, the churches of the PA Southeast Conference are urged to be ready to assist with the vaccine distribution.  This is an opportunity for your church to locally provide something vitally important to your community!

This is how we you can do it.

  • You can offer transportation services to your local vaccination sites.
  • You can communicate the news about opportunities for volunteers with background checks (the term “vetted” may be used).
  • You can provide wraparound services for vaccination centers, such as:
    • Facilities – Vaccination facilities
    • Meals for workers and volunteers
  • You can promote preparedness by encouraging congregants to get their background checks immediately.
  • You can appoint a volunteer coordinator for your church who will also act as the point of contact for the local authorities.

Here is specific information for the counties of our Conference area.

  • Philadelphia:
    • The City of Philadelphia seeks non-medical volunteers to provide administrative and logistic support at the vaccination site at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. There are 10 shifts available per days – 5 morning (7:30 am – 2 PM) and 5 evening (1:30 – 8 pm).  Interested people should go to https://serve.volunteermatch.org/campaign/campaign_detail.jsp?id=1191593&view=all to sign up.
    • FEMA is looking for chaplains and behavioral health workers to serve at the Convention Center to be available to give people a chance to talk to someone while they wait in line or in the seating area following their shots. 2 volunteers are needed per shift.  Contact FEMA VAL Amy Eden at eden@fema.dhs.gov.
    • The City will also be opening more vaccination sites in the near future. To learn more and to sign up go to https://serve.volunteermatch.org/campaign/campaign_detail.jsp?id=1191593&view=all.  The site might not be ready yet.  Keep checking.

 

  • Montgomery
    • The Montgomery County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is serving as the clearinghouse for all medical and non-medical volunteers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. To sign up follow these directions:
      • Visit https://www.serv.pa.gov/  Click Register Now
      • Under “Organization” select “Add new Organization”.
      • Scroll down to Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Organizations. Click on the “+” to expand organizations drop down box.
      • Select “Montgomery County Medical Reserve Corps.”
      • If you have any questions, or need further information, email Zhunter@montcopa.org or call 610- 996-0343.
  • For any organizations wishing to make physical space available for vaccination sites or other purposes, please send an email to Megan Young at myoung2@montcopa.org to formally make the offer with details about the facility and contact information.

 

  • Bucks
    • All inquiries and offers should go to Ashley Isola, Health and Human Services Emergency Planner, Bucks County Emergency Management Agency, 215-340-8725, aisola@buckscounty.org.

 

  • Chester, Delaware, Berks
    • Check with your local Emergency Manager and/or local Health Department.

 

  • Schuylkill
    • The South Central Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is serving as the clearinghouse for all medical and non-medical volunteers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  To sign up follow these directions:
      • Visit https://www.serv.pa.gov/ Click Register Now
      • Under “Organization” select “Add new Organization”.
      • Scroll down to Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Organizations. Click on the “+” to expand organizations drop down box.
      • Select “South Central Medical Reserve Corps.”

Finally, as always:

  • Contact the Conference Disaster Coordinator, Karl Jones, kjones275@comcast.net, to let him know about your actions and your questions. He will you include you in his prayers.
  • Send your pictures and news to him as well. Remember to get permission if there are photos of people.

 

As you can imagine, this is an emerging opportunity, which may go through several adjustments, so please stay tuned for ongoing information.