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The Reston Community Center hosted their annual William Dallas Helm Memorial Homeless Event on October 29. The event, a collaborative between Winnie Burns, event coordinator at Resurrection Baptist Church and a key Health Department partner, brings together local organizations and agencies for an afternoon of connecting with community members. The goal of the event is to provide resources and services to people in need, including those without housing, people with low-income, and older adults who may be vulnerable to food and housing insecurity.
The Health Department provided information about its clinic services, including COVID-19 vaccinations, childhood immunizations, and dental services. Other community partners shared food, clothing, toiletries, haircuts, manicures, diapers, jewelry, and other essential goods and services to over 100 attendees.
This event provides and an important opportunity for high quality services and resources to be shared with those in need. Additionally, it also provides a change for face-to-face conversations and interactions.
“There was a young couple present at the event that had not gotten their COVID-19 bivalent boosters,” said Deltavier Robertson, community health specialist with the Fairfax County Health Department. “My partner Damita Snow, with the National Council of Negro Women Reston-Herndon Section, and I both explained the importance of boosters and that a vaccine’s immunity wanes over time. The couple took the flyer for the COVID-19 vaccination walk-in services and said that they would give it serious thought because they have a small child that they want to keep protected.”
This conversation was among many that highlight the importance of being present in the community. Understanding peoples’ situations, perspectives, and concerns, personalizing conversations, and answering specific questions helps to better address community needs, drive healthy behaviors, and improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in the Fairfax Health District.