Coronavirus Relief Packages
Thousands Receive Relief Packages from New Beginnings Church and Project H.O.O.D.
Chicago—Thousands of Chicagoans suffering hardship due to the COVID-19 health pandemic received Coronavirus Relief packages on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at a Food Drive-Up/Walk-Up event held by New Beginnings Church of Chicago and Project H.O.O.D.
The line of cars stretched from 63rd Street and the Dan Ryan east to King Drive and then south to 6620 S. King Drive. The line of walk-ups stretched three and a half blocks to 63rd Street.
Pastor Corey B. Brooks - "It was an awesome day of service and ministry. I am humbled by the selflessness of the volunteers who helped and the sponsors who donated product and the individual donors who gave to our Relief Fund."
“ - It was an awesome day of service and ministry, Pastor Corey B. Brooks”
Video by CBS Chicago, special thank you to Edelman for helping Project H.O.O.D. to get the word out!
With the generous support of sponsors and numerous individuals, boxes included fruits, vegetables, meat, dry goods, canned food, hand sanitizer, soap, masks, and lotion.
“To prevent the virus from spreading so quickly, everyone should have hand sanitizer in their pocket. This is just as important as the food people need,” said Pastor Brooks.
Since the pandemic began, Project H.O.O.D. stopped regular operations and became first responders to assist those in Chicago who needed it most. “We knew early on that African Americans were going to suffer tremendously,” said Pastor Brooks. “Essential workers had to continue working without PPE and our seniors were isolated at home paralyzed with fear. Every day we were losing people to this virus. We needed to be creative and we needed to act fast.”
Project H.O.O.D. mobilized scores of community and corporate leaders in an effort to assist those disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. In a recent report by John Hopkins Medicine, racial disparities in the Covid-19 health pandemic show a need for immediate action. “...in Chicago, where African Americans comprise a third of the city’s population, they account for half of those who have tested positive for the coronavirus, and almost three-quarters of COVID-19 deaths.”
African Americans suffer many risk factors that make them much more likely to contract the novel Coronavirus; more likely to be essential workers, live in crowded conditions, have inadequate health care, chronic disease, and poor chronic disease management. These risk factors can also lead to negative COVID-19 outcomes such as hospitalization and death.
Shortly after the Illinois Stay-At-Home Order went into effect, Project H.O.O.D. in partnership with the Hojo Family Assistance Program held a Pop-Up Food Giveaway on April 2, 2020. Then, on April 8th, Project H.O.O.D. started the Coronavirus Rent and Food Relief Fun to help struggling families and seniors.
The Relief Fund has raised over $69,000 so far and Project H.O.O.D. has been able to help over 2,000 people. The Food Drive-Up/Walk-Up event served an additional 5,000 people. Food donations have been received by way of Project H.O.O.D.’s and corporate donors who have stepped in to help.
Donate to the Coronavirus Relief Fund
Project H.O.O.D. is still serving the community and your donations are needed more than ever.
Please donate to the Coronavirus Relief Fund to help us with our work.
*Photos on this page are by Corey B. Brooks, Corey Walden, Marty Ozinga IV, Sheila Ezell