June 26, 2021 - Making an Impact

Making an Impact

June 26, 2021

On Friday, there were 540 new cases reported in Alabama (covers Thursday and Friday), and the 7-day rolling average is now 172 new cases per day. On this same day last week, the 7-day rolling average was 191 new cases per day. Confirmed hospitalizations have continued to drop - 164 cases in 103 reporting hospitals, or 1.59 patients per hospital.

Alabama’s low vaccination rate has not yet triggered an increase in new cases and hospitalizations but that doesn’t mean it won’t. Alabama’s vaccination rate fell off a cliff last week, averaging only 7,800 doses per day, a 69% decrease compared to the prior week. Alabama has now administered at least one dose to 1,928,903 people, covering 46.1% of the eligible 12 and older population, and 39.3% of the State’s entire population (only Louisiana, Wyoming & Mississippi are lower). According to the CDC, 32.1% of Alabama’s entire population has been fully vaccinated (only Mississippi is lower).

Study after study confirms that the adverse consequences of this pandemic fall most heavily on the working poor. Low-income workers are more likely to contract the virus and experience severe health risks when they do. In addition, the economic burdens and losses from the virus are disproportionately borne by individuals with lower incomes who have little to no savings to cushion the blow. It is for that reason I will depart from my usual pattern to tell you about a cause I am passionate about, one that takes on added importance due to the unique burden this pandemic has placed on the working poor.

Impact America is a nonprofit organization, based in Birmingham, which recruits recent college graduates to address the consequences of poverty through three specific health, education and economic-based initiatives - FocusFirst, SpeakFirst and SaveFirst.

FocusFirst provides free vision screenings for children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. Last year, it screened nearly 50,000 children throughout Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina, 10% of whom needed and received follow-up vision care, allowing them to enter school with the tools that are essential for learning.

SpeakFirst is a high school debate program that is the pride of the Birmingham public school system. Since its founding, Impact’s graduates have earned over $6.9 million in college scholarships, developing the intellectual curiosity and self-confidence that naturally spring from debate competition.

SaveFirst provides tax preparation assistance to low-income families in several southeastern states, helping more than 15,000 of them claim over $26 million in tax refunds in the last 2 years, saving over $5.8 million in tax preparation fees.

Each of these initiatives opens the door of opportunity to disadvantaged families and individuals. As a member of Impact’s Board, I have volunteered to “Go the Extra Mile”. This pandemic has convinced me that the community work being done by great local nonprofits - like Impact America - is more vital now than ever. If you wish to join me in this movement and make an Impact, consider clicking on this link to make a contribution in any amount: https://gotheextramile.swell.gives/.

Now, I will be taking a week-long break from my writing to focus on a very important event in the life of my family - the wedding of my youngest son! Following the wedding next weekend, I will return with another Covid update. The totals:

6/10 - 290

6/11 - 188

6/14 - 550

6/15 - 290

6/16 - 160

6/17 - 152

6/18 - 182

6/21 - 356

6/22 - 118

6/23 - 191

6/25 - 540