Effective Monday, March 30, the Sowing Seeds of Hope office will be closed to visitors, volunteers, and the general public. We will continue assisting with needs of Perry County residents when contacted. Until further notice, you can reach our staff at 334-683-4666 between 9:00 and 1:00 on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. If you have an immediate need at another time, please contact Frances Ford at 334-207-5230.
We urge you to please wash your hands well and often, to avoid congregating in large groups, and to keep as much distance as possible between yourself and your friends, family, and coworkers. If you experience symptoms related to coronavirus (fever, cough, and shortness of breath), please contact your healthcare provider or one of the testing centers listed below. For the immediate future, we will discontinue our public screening program.
Coronavirus Testing
Testing for COVID-19 for any individual with clinical symptoms meeting current testing recommendations is available at Cahaba Medical Care, Marion (334-247-1066). Testing is also available at Vaughn Marion Rural Clinic (334-683-9085) for individuals who are already established patients. Twenty-four hour testing is being offered by the Hale County Medical Center in Greensboro. Testing is also available at Main Street Family Care in Selma, Cahaba Medical Care in Centreville, and Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis. Please understand that healthcare providers will only test you for COVID-19 if they deem it medically necessary due to the current national shortage of testing supplies.
Confirmed Cases in the Alabama Black Belt
As of 3:00 pm on March 26, the Alabama Department of Public Health has reported no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Perry County. The number of reported confirmed cases in nearby counties include three cases in Dallas County, one case in Marengo county, one case in Wilcox county, one case in Lowndes county, four cases in Chilton county, and six cases in Autauga county. Eighteen confirmed cases have been reported in Tuscaloosa County. No confirmed cases have been reported in Bibb, Hale, or Greene counties.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Our local healthcare providers at clinics and nursing homes are in need of PPE items. If you have medical-quality gloves or masks (especially n95 respirator masks), please help protect our caregivers by dropping those items off at the Sowing Seeds of Hope office between 9:00 and 1:00 on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday or at any of our clinics or nursing homes during their regular business hours.
Fabric Masks
If you would like to make and donate fabric masks, Sowing Seeds of Hope will distribute them to other organizations and individuals who are in need around the Black Belt. You may send your clean, complete fabric masks to 1108 Washington Street, Marion, Alabama 36756. If you are a healthcare provider who would like to make a request for fabric masks, please email Susan Jones at susan@ssohope.org.
Lunches for Perry County Children
Sowing Seeds of Hope continues to provide lunches for children this week. You may pick up a sack lunch at Uniontown First Baptist Church between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. Meals are being distributed from 1:00 to 3:00 at Providence Baptist Church (across from the Old Armory in Marion) and Eagle Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Please register your children before you pick up their meals.
Please remember that our program will end on Friday, March 27. Meals for children will be provided by the Perry County School System beginning on Monday, March 30. Meals may be picked up at Francis Marion or RC Hatch between 9:00 and 11:00 am. Please come to the back door of the cafeteria at either school. Be aware that meals are for pick-up only and that students will not be allowed inside the building. Additional community sites around the county are also available, including the Uniontown Apartments/Hare Circle from 9:45 to 10:05 amn and Bellemeade Apartments from 10:00 to 10:20 am. See the flyer on our Facebook page for additional information about pickup locations and times.
