As the coronavirus continues to race around the world, no place is hit
harder than New York City – and within the City, no place is harder
hit than the Bronx with a case rate and death rate twice that of Manhattan.
Neighborhoods in the West Bronx, which is served by Morris Heights Health
Center, are the hardest hit of all. With the highest poverty levels in
the city, dealing with the infection and fatalities related to COVID-19
are all the more difficult.
Established in 1981, MHHC is one of NYC’s largest Federally Qualified
Community Health Centers serving 57,000 patients annually from 30 locations
throughout the West Bronx, providing quality, culturally competent, affordable
and accessible primary and specialty healthcare for all, regardless of
one’s ability to pay.
MHHC has responded in unprecedented ways to meet the needs of our communities
brought about by the devastation of COVID-19. Through its new response
initiative, the Temporary Emergent COVID Unit (TECU), the health center
now provides COVID-19 triage, treatment, and testing at multiple locations.
MHHC is doubling the size of its Call Center, the “virtual front
desk,” and staffing it with providers and social workers to provide
screening, triage, and information including how best to access community
and social services. MHHC is also providing dental, mental and substance
abuse services remotely and safely, and emergency oral health services
when appropriate. MHHC Foundation will continue to support Morris Heights
Health Center seek new ways to support our community.
Unfortunately, there are no means for MHHC to be kept whole for the cost
of these extraordinary community needs. Further, MHHC’s usual income
streams have been severely disrupted due to communities properly using
social isolation. The MHHC Foundation, as the philanthropic arm of Morris
Heights Health Center, is taking this unusual step to reach out to our
fellow New Yorkers and friends everywhere in a position to help to ask
for your generous financial support while this crisis persists.
Please, if you are able, we welcome any and all donations to provide relief
to New York’s hardest hit neighborhoods, and take a second to spread
the word with your families, friends and community. Your donation and
word of mouth are saving lives at this critical time.
Donate to our COVID-19 Relief Fund