Thanks to Tom Donnelly for authoring the article.
The Daniel Patrick Sullivan Council 10208 of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, and the Fr. Victor A. Bieberle Assembly 2316, while conducting their annual 9 Day Novena For Life, were blessed by the opportunity to put their faith and resources into charitable community action. The story of these efforts demonstrates how our Knights’ principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism can inspire an entire community with ecumenical cooperation and service doing Christ’s work.
A local independent pharmacist, Dr. Michael Butler, took exceptional personal initiative to purchase freezers capable of storing the Pfizer vaccine; he soon received the desperately needed vaccine. Using the resources of his several “Health Mart” pharmacies and medical supply businesses, his personnel vaccinated the locally designated Phase 1 front-line priority personnel, i.e., local nursing home residents, medical staff, police, teachers, firefighters, etc.
He realized that as the economy of the vaccination scale increased, a tremendous amount of administrative assistance for parking, traffic control, scheduling, registering, recording, record-keeping, processing, verification, insurance recording, et al., would require extreme planning, coordination, and community assistance.
Michael found a location with tremendous facilities to enable providing large scale community immunization—Balboa Baptist Church within the Village. When adequate amounts of vaccines were on hand, and as soon as the Governor authorized Phase 2 immunizations of 70 year and older citizens, the initiatives paid off. We were ready to meet the immunization challenges.
Forty-two Council 10208 Knights, including thirty Assembly 2316 Sir Knights, assisted in immunizing over 2,000 elderly residents on January 21st and 22nd—100 an hour for ten hours each day. In another week, the process will repeat for more residents. It seemed unique to some that the Council Chaplain and Assembly Faithful Friar, in roman tab-collar and Knight’s gear, was among the Knight volunteers pitching in at the Baptist facility.
These Knights and other volunteers will be there and assist with the second shots three weeks later. As increasing quantities of vaccine arrive, these Knights are committed to supporting the immunization effort for all residents within their Hot Springs Village—the largest gated community in the country. The staff and members of the Balboa Baptist Congregation did a tremendous amount of administrative work, provided their equipment and resources, and led the effort.
Pictured from top to bottom are first: The entry-point requiring social distancing and appointment sorting. Second: Pre-registration forms are distributed, and Medicare cards copied and stapled to the shot forms. Third: Throughout the complex, guides help with “traffic control.” Fourth: There are multiple immunization stations where inoculations and vaccine records are issued, signed, and verified. Fifth: After receiving shots, a 15-minute “rest and wait” area allows observing shot recipients to assure their safety. Second appointment date/time/place cards are issued.
The Daniel Patrick Sullivan Council 10208 of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, and the Fr. Victor A. Bieberle Assembly 2316, while conducting their annual 9 Day Novena For Life, were blessed by the opportunity to put their faith and resources into charitable community action. The story of these efforts demonstrates how our Knights’ principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism can inspire an entire community with ecumenical cooperation and service doing Christ’s work.
A local independent pharmacist, Dr. Michael Butler, took exceptional personal initiative to purchase freezers capable of storing the Pfizer vaccine; he soon received the desperately needed vaccine. Using the resources of his several “Health Mart” pharmacies and medical supply businesses, his personnel vaccinated the locally designated Phase 1 front-line priority personnel, i.e., local nursing home residents, medical staff, police, teachers, firefighters, etc.
He realized that as the economy of the vaccination scale increased, a tremendous amount of administrative assistance for parking, traffic control, scheduling, registering, recording, record-keeping, processing, verification, insurance recording, et al., would require extreme planning, coordination, and community assistance.
Michael found a location with tremendous facilities to enable providing large scale community immunization—Balboa Baptist Church within the Village. When adequate amounts of vaccines were on hand, and as soon as the Governor authorized Phase 2 immunizations of 70 year and older citizens, the initiatives paid off. We were ready to meet the immunization challenges.
Forty-two Council 10208 Knights, including thirty Assembly 2316 Sir Knights, assisted in immunizing over 2,000 elderly residents on January 21st and 22nd—100 an hour for ten hours each day. In another week, the process will repeat for more residents. It seemed unique to some that the Council Chaplain and Assembly Faithful Friar, in roman tab-collar and Knight’s gear, was among the Knight volunteers pitching in at the Baptist facility.
These Knights and other volunteers will be there and assist with the second shots three weeks later. As increasing quantities of vaccine arrive, these Knights are committed to supporting the immunization effort for all residents within their Hot Springs Village—the largest gated community in the country. The staff and members of the Balboa Baptist Congregation did a tremendous amount of administrative work, provided their equipment and resources, and led the effort.
Pictured from top to bottom are first: The entry-point requiring social distancing and appointment sorting. Second: Pre-registration forms are distributed, and Medicare cards copied and stapled to the shot forms. Third: Throughout the complex, guides help with “traffic control.” Fourth: There are multiple immunization stations where inoculations and vaccine records are issued, signed, and verified. Fifth: After receiving shots, a 15-minute “rest and wait” area allows observing shot recipients to assure their safety. Second appointment date/time/place cards are issued.
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At the conclusion of the wait time, Knights collected all paperwork, ensured vaccination cards and appointment cards had been received, issued another registration questionnaire for the second shot, and answered any questions that arose. Knights also arranged golf-cart or wheel- chair assistance when needed.
Council 10208 and Assembly 231 6 are committed to “LEAVE NO NEIGHBOR BEHIND.”
Council 10208 and Assembly 231 6 are committed to “LEAVE NO NEIGHBOR BEHIND.”