As our community continues to struggle with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Second Story in the Community is bringing arts, crafts, music, food, resources, and accessible vaccines to Springfield and Culmore!
After a well-received Hispanic Heritage Festival in Springfield this month, Second Story in the Community wanted to bring the same energy and resources to the Culmore Community. This Thursday, October 14th, we are partnering with the Fairfax County Health Department, Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, as well as other partners for a Fall Festival.
The communities we serve are vaccine-hesitant, and our staff are working to educate and encourage them to get the vaccine and protect themselves from COVID-19. Soraya Borja, our Vice President of Community-Based Services, reports that there are many reasons for this hesitancy: some people are nervous about the side effects following the vaccine, some do not drive and have a hard time getting to a vaccination site, and some have heard misinformation about the vaccine. Between sharing resources about COVID and the vaccine as well as removing barriers to getting vaccinated, our staff work to ensure that families in the community are equipped to protect themselves from COVID. Staff are distributing 200 flyers to spread the word about the event and Neighborhood Health, a local nonprofit, will be vaccinating people. Three weeks later they will return to give second doses.
Just two weeks ago 25 people got vaccinated in one day as a result of our outreach! And in the meantime, we continue to support families struggling with the economic impacts of the pandemic. We’re continuing our food distribution efforts, providing more than 1,000 meals to families each month. We’re committed to the overall wellbeing of our community, and we’re honored to be a trusted source of support in these neighborhoods!
