We are excited to share the Cleveland Vaccine Volunteer Network, a collaborative effort of local organizations and community members built to increase equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines in our region. Although vaccine availability in Cleveland is currently high, we have identified through community outreach and dialogue a growing need to support those navigating the appointment process. The network is currently made up of Serve the Moment Cleveland, Neighborhood Connections, Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Hillel at Kent State, Cleveland Hillel, and we invite you and your organization to join!

 

We ask for your assistance in sharing the below info with your networks, interested volunteers, care workers, and community members.

 

Our two main functions are:

1. Recruit and match volunteers (sign-up form here) with community members who request help navigating the vaccine process.

 

2. Create a mechanism for community members (OR care workers/community organizers) to request assistance with the vaccine process (request form here)

...

​

The COVID-19 vaccine roll out in the US is in desperate need of volunteers. Communities across the country, particularly seniors over 65, are struggling to navigate complex online systems needed to schedule an appointment to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. We have an opportunity to show up for our Northeast Ohio community and plug in to vaccine distribution work!

​

Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC (EDCJCC) and Hillel at the George Washington University (GW Hillel) pioneered a successful approach to this problem by connecting EDCJCC’s population of seniors with GW Hillel’s population of student volunteers. Repair the World loved this model - and we wanted to bring a similar strategy to as many communities as possible. Recognizing that a hyper-localized vaccine roll-out required a local approach, Repair the World set out to replicate EDCJCC and GW Hillel’s materials to create a templated vaccine sign-up support program toolkit for any local community (such as Cleveland) to adapt to their needs.
 
According to Jewish tradition, someone who saves a life is credited as if they have saved an entire world. By supporting vulnerable community members in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, we have a chance to live out the Jewish value of piku'ach nefesh (saving a soul) in a direct and meaningful way.