Saturday, February 26th, 2022 – Bridgeport, CT – Bridgeport residents showed up Saturday morning for a Covid-19 At-Home Rapid Test distribution at East End Baptist Tabernacle Church. Volunteers set up tents and propane heaters in the parking lot of the church. Senator Richard Blumenthal made a stop at the event.

The event was hosted by Alliance for Community Empowerment & Southwest Community Health Center. The organizations included as partners SNAP, East End NRZ Market & Café, GBAPP Inc, Housatonic Community College, and the Bridgeport Firebirds in order to spread the word and get the tests distributed out to the public.

This community event included the distribution of Covid-19 tests, hand sanitizer, masks, and Covid-19 safety information, and also organizations also offered details on the various services they provide. Alliance for Community Empowerment educated attendees on their Energy Assistance and Early Learning Programs, SNAP provided details on their Food Assistance program, East End NRZ Market & Cafe shared information on the market and various community resources they offer, and GBAPP Inc. brought information on their Housing programs and offered HIV Testing.

“It’s important that Alliance provides Energy Assistance, Early Learning, and various Self-Supportive Services Programs but also work together in a time of need and provide the necessary resources to the community,” explained Dr. Monette Ferguson, Alliance’s Executive Director. “This time it’s Covid-19 tests, masks, and hand sanitizer, but rest assured, Alliance For Community Empowerment is your neighbor, and we are always here for the community.”

Alliance for Community Empowerment has put on many events to support the community during Covid-19, including distributing tests to Bridgeport’s elderly population, hosting coat drives, hand sanitizer distributions, and vaccination clinics. In fact, a vaccination clinic was also being run simultaneously, at Alliance’s East Main Street site, in partnership with Griffin Health.