The outsized impact of COVID-19, married with lower rates of vaccination in the Black community, mean that it has been much more difficult to manage the spread of the disease within a population that is already marginalized. Saturday’s event was an amalgamation of information session and vaccination clinic, and by the end of the weekend, the group had administered 2,231 doses. While planning for more pop-up clinics, the BPAO is continuing to run a standing vaccination clinic in partnership with Taibu Community Health Centre in Scarborough and other community allies. BPAO physicians have successfully vaccinated about 250 people per day at that location, coming up to a total of about 2,350 vaccinations before last weekend’s event at the JCA.

Those who need assistance accessing groceries, essential supplies and medication are connected via the Good Neighbour Hotline with a person who is able to purchase and deliver the items. The person making the request pays only for the cost of the groceries as delivery is free.

Kingston Health Sciences Centre was alerted that they would be getting a large amount of vaccines that needed to be distributed quickly.

Jobs have been posted online seeking physicians, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals including pharmacists and veterinarians. The postings are also open to former providers and students studying to become a health professional as long as they’ve completed the immunization portion of their training.

Training for eligible professionals surrounding the specifics of the COVID-19 vaccine is being provided through Red River College. The training takes eight hours which includes five hours of online theory and three hours of lab time.

People assigned to work in immunization clinics are in one of the priority groups to get the vaccine.

Beginning Monday, April 12 the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit [HKPRDHU] will run clinics three times per week in Haliburton – on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. These clinics have been scheduled until mid-June and will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While the on-site medical staff will be provided and scheduled by public health, there is still a “great need” for community volunteers to assist with tasks such as screening patients, escorting patients to their seats, cleaning and dismissing people after they have been given their vaccination.

The ability to run all of our mass immunization clinics across the region would not be possible without the help of all of our incredible volunteers, between the ages of 18 and 72, who have already put in over 2,000 hours at the clinics.

This edition includes profiles of At Home with Ajax Council FB Live Series; COVID-19 Window Project; Stay Home Ajax #SupportLocal; Ajax Library: Meet Flipster; “Community to Table” Food Box; Friendly Call Program for Seniors; and Ajax Hygiene Hub.

A community-built website, http://neighbouring.org features a network of neighbours organizing to check on and take care of each other by telephone, text, email, doorstep deliveries, etc. Also includes tools for starting pods.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association announced a nationwide Neighbourhood Helper campaign, with Muslim youth offering services to Canadians who need assistance with picking up groceries and filling prescriptions. The group says volunteers will also be there to provide overall moral support.

Ten “Community Positivity Ambassadors” have been appointed and tasked with spreading positivity by using social media to share stories of “Newmarket’s bright side” and perseverance.

Bag Half Full was started by University of Alberta medical students and is expanding, most recently to UBC Victoria. Services include shopping and delivering groceries and household items for the elderly and people who are immunocompromised.

Through UChicago’s Partnering for Community Impact initiative, support will come through three main programs: preparing and delivering meals to South Side residents; supporting South Side businesses and their employees; and supporting South Side nonprofit organizations and the vulnerable populations they serve. The programs will help address the urgent food security needs on the South Side, as well as begin to bridge the financial and resource gap for local businesses and community-based nonprofits.

With many businesses around the National Capital region temporarily shut down or re-imagining their offerings due to COVID-19, this site is a resource for residents to find local spots to order from and support.

Stories include: How Cochrane AB is fostering community through technology; Virtual Storytimes in Woodstock, ON; Edmonton, Alberta is staying connected with community postcards; Waterloo ON’s window walks; and Hamilton’s caremongering supports

The Toronto Bike Brigade calls for volunteer bicycle riders in Toronto to help deliver goods to people unable to leave their homes

The DTES Response aims to activate community networks to create a stop-gap plan for the urgent needs of the most vulnerable. Right now, the group is mobilizing resources and coordinating operations.

Abundant Community Edmonton is a grassroots initiative fostering neighbour to neighbour relationships. The goal is to cultivate a culture of care and connection, increased sense of belonging and inclusion, and create a more healthy and livable city – one block at a time. Set up pre-COVID, these groups are now mobilizing to provide support to vulnerable residents.

Student volunteers will be matched with a single family to minimize their contact, and only those with childcare experience can provide childcare.

Co-ordinated by the London Middlesex Primary Care Alliance, a group of primary care providers, the grassroots initiative works with individuals and businesses, such as veterinary clinics, podiatrists and spas, to collect and donate unused supplies. As many businesses are closed or offering limited services during the pandemic, organizers say this is a practical way to address the shortage for frontline workers. Third-year medical students are part of the organizing team, collecting PPE equipment from community donors, creating an inventory of the supplies and helping to deliver them based on the need among local primary care teams.

Students are reaching out to businesses, vendors, and industry partners who may have PPE available to donate to our hospitals and front-line healthcare professionals.

To deal with the inundation of calls to Ontario’s provincial health line Telehealth, the Registered Nurses of Ontario recently put out a call for help. CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun said within 30 hours, roughly 2,300 nurses volunteered.

Alberta Nonprofit Network has partnered with the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) and FuseSocial to be resource hubs for COVID-19 information. Check out their website for: resources for workplaces; community/sub-sector specific resources; and Alberta-specific FAQs.