Through a new partnership, local leaders are working to make COVID-19 testing more accessible to members of the black community.

A coalition of local pastors are working with the Hamilton County Health Department, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, and the Servant Leadership Christian Fellowship on the effort, which turns area churches into testing sites during weekends in June.

By the numbers

○ Four churches over four weekends

○ About 100 tests an hour done in the first weekend

○ 647 tested in the first weekend

Fast facts

○ Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga — which aims to provide resources that allow all Chattanoogans to thrive + reach their full potential — provided a grant to the health department to make this initiative possible.

○ Although the partnership is with black churches, organizers said the free testing is available for anyone.

○ There is a disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the black and Latinx communities.

○ In Hamilton County, Hispanic residents make up 6 percent of the population and 49 percent of the COVID-19 cases.

○ Anyone with questions should call the Hamilton County Health Department COVID-19 hotline at 423-209-8383.

Testing sites

○ June 13-14 – Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church, 1734 E 3rd St.

○ June 20-21 – Hawkinsville Baptist Church, 7463 Pinewood Dr.

○ June 27-28 – Tucker Baptist Church, 1115 N Moore Rd.

Testing will run Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Additional testing sites for July are anticipated to be announced in the coming weeks and are being developed in partnership with a broader coalition of community leaders and local pastors.

Visit the Health Department’s website to view a list of testing events and sites.

Quoteworthy

"We know African American communities are more likely to be essential workers, more likely to be exposed at work, and are ultimately more at risk during this pandemic. Churches have long-been places of healing and hope — this is another way we can offer ourselves in service and pour God’s grace into our community.” – Dr. Ternae Jordan, senior pastor at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, the first church hosting a testing site on June 6 and 7.

“Ministry just doesn’t come from behind the pulpit. We are called to go beyond the walls. This is an opportunity for the church and the community to come together.” – Rev. Carlos Williams, senior pastor of Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church.

“At the end of the day we want to stress this is really about the partners. We are just fortunate to be a conduit and financial catalysis. The work and due diligence is being done by the African American churches, their pastors, the health department and community volunteers. It’s all about them.” – Dwayne Marshall, Community Foundation, VP of community investment