Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Buffalo area organizations charged with delivering care to under-served communities are anticipating an influx of dollars from the federal government that will aid in delivering the COVID vaccine and other critical services in both the near and long term.
The White House announced it will spend $10 billion to help organizations which help low-income and minority neighborhoods get residents vaccinated for COVID. Area organization leaders say they're grateful that money is coming.
At Jericho Road Community Health Center, Dr. Myron Glick says he's getting a significant amount to help expand the care and underwrite the cost of testing and treating COVID, as well as vaccination. "Like so much of what we do, I have this sense that we see the need and do what is the right thing. When COVID came along a year ago, we were not sure how COVID would affect us financially," says Glick, who says received money from the same program last year,
Glick says even though there was no money to vaccinate, he felt it was the right thing to do to vaccinate as many in the community as possible. "So far, we've vaccinated over 6,000 patients in the community. Getting this money is a real blessing for us and will allow us to do more with regards to over COVID efforts," says Glick.
$4 million will go to Neighborhood Health Center of WNY. "We're excited about the funding opportunity," says Joanne Haefner. "This will help with our response to COVID, specifically our capacity to outreach to those in poverty and racially diverse people who are still having trouble getting in for vaccines." She says the funds will help those who cannot get access to an appointment.
Haefner says the money will help continue partnerships with partnerships that have already been established. including Say Yes Buffalo. "We're providing mobile services to kids learning remotely, to provide them with access to vaccinations," says Haefner. "That partnership has grown with Buffalo Public Schools to ensure teachers have access to vaccine, so we'll be able to expand that."
Haefner says the money will help ensure children get an education, and expand opportunities to help them graduate and succeed.
