Healthy Savannah Announces $5000 in Funding for Winter & Spring Health Ministry Events

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Jan. 9, 2023 - PRLog -- (SAVANNAH, GA) Healthy Savannah has announced it is offering grant funding to support 2023 health ministry or faith-based community events that promote overall health and wellness. Funds are available for applicable projects, events and programs through May 2023 that include COVID-19 and flu awareness activities.

Healthy Savannah is looking to disperse approximately $5000 in grant money that is specifically earmarked to be spent in the faith community. The funds are part of an effort funded by a supplemental grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to broaden initiatives of the current Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant, administered by Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. The goal of this initiative is to focus on COVID-19 and flu vaccine access, awareness, and acceptance, particularly in Savannah's Black and Hispanic communities.

Individual organizational grant amounts may range from $500 to $1500, depending on the content of the proposed plans. Proposals are due on or before Friday, January 20, 2023, and early applications are encouraged. Smalls says funding decisions will be announced by January 31, 2023, and funds will be available immediately. New applicants are encouraged to apply. All approved plans must be implemented and activities completed by May 31, 2023.

This is the third round of funding made available through the REACH grant to faith-based community partners. Previously funded events during 2022 included a "Smart Start Back-to-School Initiative" held in July at New Birth Christian Center, a "Back to School Block Party" in August at Greater Gaines Chapel AME Church; and "Reaching Others For Health and Hope" at Faith Deliverance Church in September.

The REACH grant also funds a Community Health Advocate program in which members of the community receive training to provide vaccine awareness and acceptance information in their own neighborhoods which may be at higher risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19 or flu. Nearly 50 of these advocates are actively working at various community and faith-based events throughout the Savannah area.

Grant applicants are asked to present a detailed explanation of the activity or event that includes the name, proposed date and budget, promotion plan and how community resources will be used to maximize its impact.

The proposal must also address how the event/activity will promote overall health, wellness and disease prevention and continue to increase awareness of the impact of COVID-19 and the flu in Chatham County's priority communities.

For more information and to apply, contact Dr. Elsie Smalls at elsie@healthysavannah.org, referencing the following in the email subject line: Faith and Health Funds Grant Application- 2023 Spring Events.