Donations to the homeless aren’t uncommon. But these will help stop the spread of COVID-19

It took a few weeks into the novel coronavirus pandemic for eyes outside of local service agencies to turn toward the homeless population in Manatee County.

That changed in late April when Florida Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, convinced state officials to begin testing the homeless community for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The good news is that testing in mid May, showed the disease did not appear to be spreading among the homeless thus far. Now local health officials want to keep it that way.

The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County delivered 500 cloth masks to Turning Points this week to be distributed to staff, volunteers and the homeless community.

Retiring Turning Points Executive Director Adell Erozer said the donation is important to the agency’s mission of protecting the vulnerable population.

“Working in partnership with the health department, we assist our neighbors in need in becoming healthy, housed and sustainable,” Erozer said. “Distributing face masks to our most vulnerable populations and teaching them the importance of wearing them during the pandemic is done with our shared mission in mind.”

DOH-Manatee is a partner of Turning Points and other agencies when it comes to the health of a vulnerable population.

“We encourage everyone out in public to wear a face covering to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially as we reopen and more people begin to circulate,” said Dr. Jennifer Bencie, DOH-Manatee health officer.

DOH-Manatee’s partnership with Turning Points includes programs that support good nutrition for women, infants and children. Also the agency operates a mobile unit for no-cost screenings for hepatitis A, HIV, sexually transmitted infections and other communicable diseases.

Other DOH-Mantee partners include the Salvation Army, Step Up Suncoast, Women’s Resource Center, Centerstone and Our Daily Bread.