MartinConnects

Thrive Alabama provides a variety of medical services for people from all walks of life in North Alabama, including underinsured and uninsured patients. Presently, almost 4,000 patients benefit from Thrive Alabama’s wide spectrum of services, including COVID-19 testing, adult primary medical care, pediatrics, outreach and health education, HIV testing, behavioral healthcare, and many other services. With the money received from the grants program, they will be able to provide free health services to the homeless population in Huntsville through a mobile testing vehicle. Services will include blood pressure testing, HIV testing, flu vaccines, and COVID-19 testing. Their goal is to reach more than 100 homeless patients during their first seven months of this new program through their partnership with First Stop, a local homeless organization. For more information about Thrive Alabama and the services they provide, please visit their website at www.thrivealabama.org.

Wicomico Public Libraries partners with the City of Salisbury, the Homeless Alliance of the Lower Shore, and the Vulnerable Populations Taskforce to make sure the most vulnerable in their communities have access to basic needs like food, education, healthcare, and shelter. Before COVID-19, the Library was a place where the homeless could seek shelter during the day to get out of extreme weather conditions. Since they are currently restricted to allow fewer individuals and by appointment only, they looked for other ways to help their homeless population. Through the grant money, they will receive, they will be able to purchase over 65 Sheltersuits, which are wind and waterproof jackets with an optional sleeping bag attachment to provide immediate shelter. These suits will help protect their homeless population from extreme cold and wet weather until they are able to gain access to shelter. For more information about Wicomico Public Libraries, please visit their website at www.wicomicolibraries.org.