Over the past year, churches have found ways to help local communities during the pandemic through food distribution programs and remote learning spaces for students. As COVID-19 response efforts continue, Disaster Ministries and churches within the NC Conference have worked with health care providers to volunteer at vaccination clinics. Here are a few churches that have been serving at vaccination clinics in their communities:
Garner UMC
Garner UMC hosted a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on April 2 and April 3 in collaboration with Josefs Pharmacy. 1,100 persons were vaccinated at the clinic. Garner UMC is hosting a follow-up clinic on April 23 and April 24.
Photo provided by Rev. Greg Jenks
Fiesta Cristiana Mission Congregation
The Fiesta Cristiana Mission Congregation (FCMC) partnered with El Centro Hispano (ECH) and Wake County to host a COVID-19 vaccination event on March 11 in Apex. The main goal was to reach out to Hispanic-Latinx persons in the area. 300 doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered. A second shot was scheduled for April 8.
Photo provided by Rev. José Luis Villaseñor
Pastors José Luis Villaseñor of Fiesta Cristiana and Laura Katherine Stern of Apex UMC were on site to welcome Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson who serves North Carolina as the State Health Director and the Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Tilson and Pastor Laura Katherine received their first vaccines at the event. In speaking to local media, Dr. Tilson highlighted the importance of doing more to reach out to Hispanic-Latinx persons.
Photo provided by Rev. José Luis Villaseñor
FCMC and ECH are currently working to organize a vaccination event in April in the Angier/Fuquay Varina area. FCMC and ECH are also partnering to continue the distribution of PPE. They have partnered in the past to organize COVID testing events.
Story submitted by Rev. José Luis Villaseñor
Lake Waccamaw UMC
Amy Sessions, a member of Lake Waccamaw UMC, who is also a Pharmacist, noticed that out of the first 50 shots that she administered, only two of them went to African Americans. Out of Amy’s concern, Pastor Dalma Cribb notified Pastor Carl Nichols of the AME Zion lake church, inquiring of the possibility of holding a vaccine clinic focusing on African Americans. Pastor Carl and Amy organized the clinic with several area AME Zion Churches.
On March 17 at Lee’s Chapel in Bolton, members of Lake Waccamaw UMC registered and administered vaccines to 66 individuals. The day was filled with the development of new relationships, the sharing of personal stories, laughter, lots of celebrating as each person received the vaccine, and hope was given. Many of the conversations focused on the ability to spend time with family and friends as more people receive the vaccine.
Photo taken by Rev. Dalma Cribb
On April 14, the Lake Waccamaw team returned to Lee’s Chapel to administer the second dose of the vaccine and a few first doses. During the day, friendships were strengthened and wishes were made to see one another again through shared worship.
Story submitted by Rev. Dalma Cribb
La Semilla
La Semilla, in collaboration with Wake County and WakeMed Health, hosted a vaccination event on February 20 to vaccinate 200 people focusing on Hispanic-Latinx persons. La Semilla has volunteered at several other clinics in Raleigh, Greensboro, and Durham.
Watch “La Semilla Helping to Vaccinate the Community.”
Has your church held a clinic?
We would like to know how many clinics have been held in the NC Conference of The UMC and how many people were vaccinated. If your church has had a clinic, please fill out the Church Vaccination Clinic form.
If you would like to volunteer at a vaccination clinic, visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Volunteer page to sign up for an upcoming clinic.