Hammonton Health Coalition’s Response to COVID-19 is Focused on the Power of Social Connection

It was originally posted at the New Jersey Health Initiatives Grantee Blog.

What would you do if your Coronavirus test came back positive, you are self-quarantined at home, and have no family around and no access to medical care?

That scenario is Miguel’s* story. After he tested positive for COVID-19, he was instructed to self-quarantine at home, but was given no other aid. When our Hammonton Health Coalition (HHC) partners learned about Miguel’s situation, our Community Connectors began to bring him homecooked meals and checked on him daily to ensure he could bear the isolation and the symptoms he was experiencing. Now Miguel is feeling better, and he is motivated to become one of our Connectors to help others in need.

Yaislyn Morales, owner of  M&R Tax Services, a Hammonton Health Coalition partner, donated diapers after she heard about local families’ needs.

COVID-19 is taking a heavy toll on undocumented immigrants, most of whom work front line jobs and have been left without meaningful protections for their health and safety at work. This issue is very real here in South Jersey. Many of the families our coalition partners serve are being affected in devastating ways. Households where entire families are infected with the virus have struggled to access medical care and food. Most of these families often do not have a readily available support network. We have taken the initiative to call them, listen to their concerns and offer information and resources. Sometimes that is sufficient. However, other times we have seen the need to bring them food, diapers, or teach them how to make fun masks for their children. Regardless of the services we provide, we always offer them opportunities to stay connected virtually with our community through webinars, job search support groups, contests, and other online events.

During these difficult times, we are escalating our outreach to ensure everyone in our community has access to the help they need. Our passion and years of experience working across sectors partner organizations in South Jersey is proving to be the most useful now. Even with limited resources, we have been there for the people who need us the most. If you would like to support our mission, there are many ways you can help! You are invited to become an HHC Community Connector. For information on the Hammonton Health Coalition and how to participate, please send us an email at Hammonton.HC@gmail.com.

The Hammonton Health Coalition presented a COVID–19: Resources and Information webinar in Spanish. Click the image or here to view the May 27 recording.

*Names have been changed and last names omitted to protect the individual’s privacy.

Link to the news article here: https://buff.ly/2VEgdhU