She is putting the neighbor in neighborhood!
A Mississippi business owner created a vaccine transportation service for locals, Black Enterprise reports.
Pam Chatman is the owner of Boss Lady Workforce Transportation. Since the vaccination rollout, Chatman noticed some gaps in service for her Cleveland, Mississippi neighbors, choosing to aid in the efforts by creating the Vaccine Transportation Initiative (VTI), assisting with transportation to vaccination sites, hosting pop-ups, educating locals about the vaccine, and providing home vaccination visits.
“We know here in rural Mississippi, a lot of places here do not have internet. So, it was difficult for them to register…We are now going into Black communities taking mobile facilities there and actually meeting the people and serving the people where they are. We’re going into their communities, into their churches, and providing them the vaccine,” Chatman said.
The campaign is an effort to assist her neighbors and make sure that those who want to and need it the most can benefit from the vaccine. Melvin Curry, co-owner of Life Savers Assisted Living, spoke about how easy VTI made his vaccination experience. Curry, his wife, and 14 other staff members and clients received the vaccine courtesy of Chatman’s services.
“It was very smooth. There were no issues as far as our clients. Everything went well,” said Curry.
Mississippi native Keith Fulcher also spoke highly of Chatman, calling her “the Mother Teresa of the Mississippi Delta.”
So far, Chatman has helped get almost 60 people in the community vaccinated and raised more than $30,000 in donations.
“I just want to give because there are so many people who are afraid to ask for the things they need,” said Chatman.
Thank you for your service, Pam! Because of you, they can!
Photo Courtesy of Black Enterprise