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.