Local Foundations Collaborate to Help the MOV

Photo Provided by Memorial Health Foundation

Washington County, OH – Local problems call for local solutions, and although COVID-19 has been a global issue, three local funders are collaborating to combat the epidemic in the MOV.

Marietta Community Foundation, Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, and Sisters Health Foundation have awarded a $15,000 collaborative grant to the Memorial Health Foundation to purchase medical tents for their drive-through vaccination clinics.

“Marietta Community Foundation keeps an open line of communication with the other funders in our area,” said Heather Allender, President & CEO of MCF. “Although we each have a different geographical focus, we value collaboration… that’s why we look for opportunities that can benefit all of the populations we serve, just like this one”

“We know how critical vaccination programs are right now for protecting the health of area residents,” said Marian Clowes, Associate Director for Community Leadership at the PACF. “Working together, we can help ensure that vaccines can be delivered effectively and safely. Memorial Health System vaccination program assists individuals from both OH and WV, so we are pleased to be a part of this ‘cross-river’ collaboration.”

“Providing funding towards this collaborative effort is important to us as it improves accessibility and enables people to receive the vaccine in a safe, comfortable environment,” said Renee Steffen, Executive Director at Sisters Health Foundation. “Meeting needs during the pandemic has always been a team effort and this is another way that we can help support area residents as well as our hard-working healthcare professionals.”

The medical tents purchased from this collaborative grant will allow Memorial Health Systems to set-up vaccination clinics at various sites. The tents are a specialized product that not only offers shelter from inclement weather but also provides protection for the medical equipment and supplies necessary to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

Memorial Health Systems has mobilized a team capable of administering up to 1,000 vaccines per day; this is dependent upon vaccine availability. This team will help grant access to our rural communities that are at a disadvantage of receiving the vaccine.

“The objective of Memorial Health System’s drive-through vaccination clinic is to quickly vaccinate as many community members possible,” said Jarrett Stull, Executive Director at Memorial Health Foundation. “Our operational plan is to administer all available vaccines to community members through ongoing drive-through clinics until demand diminishes.”

Memorial Health Systems has vaccinated approximately 2,000 community members since the beginning of 2021.