Physician volunteers will dispense free food, masks and educational materials to address health disparities in Houston-Fort Bend
The Houston-Fort Bend community is invited to join Mayor Sylvester Turner, physicians, other elected officials and an array of volunteers for a COVID-19 distribution on Saturday, June 13, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Missouri City Baptist Church, 16816 Quail Park Drive, Missouri City, Texas 77489.
This is a joint event presented by Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force – Medical Care Subcommittee and the Houston Medical Forum.
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and intensified health inequities in communities where people were already struggling. Combined with new economic challenges, some of our neighbors now face increased food insecurity as well as little-to-no resources to acquire items for novel coronavirus protection and to maintain general health.
This event aims to provide some relief through the distribution of free masks, hand sanitizer and educational materials. Texas State Rep. Ron Reynolds was instrumental in securing the Houston Food Bank’s donation of 500 packaged meals.
The Houston Medical Forum, comprised of black physicians and affiliated with the National Medical Association, has secured the participation of Increase Financial, Dairy Max and 100 Black Men of Houston. At least two dozen Houston Medical Forum physician volunteers are scheduled to participate.
In addition, U.S. Rep. Al Green, Houston Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, Fort Bend County Commissioner Grady Prestage and Missouri City Baptist Church Pastor Dennis Young are expected to join the effort.
Visit HoustonEmergency.org for information about the city’s COVID-19 response and hurricane preparedness. Go to HoustonMedicalForum.org for details about the Houston Medical Forum.
The Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Initiative and Task Force is a vital component of the City of Houston’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery effort launched by Mayor Sylvester Turner in April 2020 as an intervention for vulnerable and at-risk populations. The initiative is led by five Mayor’s Office Division Directors with implementation visioning and support from the H.E.R. Task Force comprised of more than 50 civic leaders. The mayoral appointees to the Task Force include medical specialists, public health professionals, communications creatives, data scientists, technology experts and faith leaders. The H.E.R. Task Force is addressing health inequities and access by accelerating the data-driven, targeted and rapid response for residents in 22 priority Super Neighborhoods, which include Acres Home, Denver Harbor, Eastex-Jensen, Fifth Ward, Gulfton, Independence Heights, Kashmere Gardens, Sunnyside and Third Ward. Chief Response and Recovery Officer Marvin Odum leads the city’s coordinated response to the public health crisis and economic downturn caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.