It is no secret that accessing healthcare west of the Great Miami River is challenging due to a number of factors. The loss of Good Samaritan Hospital on Salem Ave. created a massive void in West Dayton that the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened. As case numbers started rising, our founder and leadership team felt compelled to bring accessible COVID-19 Testing to trusted sites in local neighborhoods. In May, the only sites in operation were in the vicinity of downtown or in suburbs. After a number of phone calls, a coalition of churches and non-profits emerged. Partnering with Primary Health Solutions, weekly tests began in parking lots and intersections overlooked by the healthcare institutions in Dayton.
The bus would arrive early with cheerful, expert staff who worked through heat and rain while folks sat comfortably in their cars. Each church supplied a number of volunteers alongside our team at the Dayton Equity Center. A new location was announced weeks before and broadcast on radio, social media, TV stations, and from pulpits to ensure that everyone had a shot at the care and peace of mind they needed. Through May, June, July, August, and September, our crew and partners showed up for whoever would drive up, free of charge. We want to continue to thank all involved in bringing this effort together. The Dayton Equity Center inventively provides services like these because, as one of our pillars of equity states, “we believe strong communities require a foundation of wellness.”
