April 2021 Service: NOLA Ready Vaccines

April Hours: 16 

Running total: 37 


This month, I have begun a new volunteering endeavor! I still work with Glass Half Full, and have begun recycling class for houses on my street, and have taken about 100 lbs of glass from other homes! I haven't volunteered this month at the warehouse. In addition, I spent about 4 hours doing FEMA trainings, and I have worked two 6-hour shifts working with NOLA Ready.  

NOLA Ready teamed up with LCMC in order to help with vaccine distribution throughout the city of New Orleans. Our 'pod' is based in Hall J of the Convention Center. I have only helped with screening/entry. Each day is different, and a different dose is given out (Pfizer Dose 1, Moderna Dose 2, etc). When people walk in the doors, I greet them with a thermometer and a screening card. I also double check which dose they are receiving to be sure they don't get the wrong one! 

                                                      

Here is me and my handy-dandy thermometer gun! 

Something I was not actively anticipating was the use of translators and screening cards in different languages. Over the last couple times volunteering, I have become more comfortable with asking a family if they prefer the Spanish card over English. Originally, it felt, almost rude, or assuming of me to try to look out for those who may not speak English well. But it turns out, most of the people I end up asking if they prefer a Spanish card- truly appreciated it. I don't have a lot of experience working with people who speak different languages, so it was rather eye-opening. 


Spanish Screening Cards

It felt so hopeful to see person after person walk in and out of the Convention Center for their vaccine. At this point (2:30 PM on 4/22) 42.4% of New Orleanians have received their first dose of the vaccine. It was also so nice to chat and get to know the other people I was working with. There are other volunteers with NOLA Ready, but most of the grunt work is done by various LCMC techs from different locations- Touro, Children's, etc. I had a chance to talk with some of them on what a New Orleans ER is like. Their schedules right now rotate between vaccination sites and the ER. It seems that they all prefer to be in the ER, but on slow days of vaccination appointments, it's a nice break from the chaos.

I attached some pictures below of my experience! I have more shifts coming up next week (12 additional hours). 



6:15 Sunrise


Hall J


Coffee & a vest! 


My view all day! 


Registration stations


First year undergraduate student at Tulane, Sophia, who I volunteered & made friends with!


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