Bank of America partners with Martha's Village, Galilee Center to offer free flu shots
With flu season underway and the holidays approaching, it's important to make ourselves aware of disparities in access to preventative health care that are prevalent in lower-income households and underserved communities in our area.
To help bridge this health resource gap, Bank of America has partnered with CVS Health to expand its funding of free flu shots to Martha’s Village & Kitchen and the Galilee Center here in the Coachella Valley as well as eight other nonprofits throughout the Inland Empire.
The bank provided flu shot vouchers to its partners, who will then distribute them to those who need them. In addition, anyone from a vulnerable population or low-income background who lacks health insurance can get a voucher from one of the designated nonprofits and then go to CVS to redeem it for a flu shot.
“This generous donation of free flu shot vouchers through the Bank of America is having an amazing impact on the impoverished and critically under-insured (residents) of the Coachella Valley who felt that they would not have access to this resource to not only protect their health, but also the health and well-being of their precious family members,” said Linda Barrack, Martha's Village & Kitchen's president and CEO.
This program is part of Bank of America’s focus on bridging health needs in underserved communities. The bank has also distributed more than a million PPE facemasks, gloves and bottles of hand sanitizer to community groups across the Inland Empire since the pandemic began.
“The pandemic has revealed and exacerbated gaps in health resource access in underserved communities,” said Bansree Parikh, Inland Empire president, Bank of America. “As a major employer here, Bank of America feels an obligation and a responsibility to help alleviate pressing health needs in our community. If we can’t directly address them, we have experienced partners who can, and that’s the basis of this free flu voucher program – teamwork.”
Other nearby nonprofits who received vouchers included: Foothill Family Shelter, Mary’s Mercy Center, Path of Life Ministries, San Bernardino Valley College, Riverside Community College District, Children’s Fund, Catholic Charities, Inland SoCal United Way.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Bank of America offers free flu shots
