Highlights From May 2021 - Vaccination Events and Road Naming

May 2021 was another exciting month for SWAG. We hosted two vaccination events in collaboration with the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic. Also, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted unanimously to name a portion of SW 61 Street and SW 8 Avenue in honor of SWAG’s visionary, Joan Canton.

We Hosted Two May 2021 Vaccination Events

We distributed 28 vaccines in Tower Oaks on May 24 and 17 vaccines in Majestic Oaks on May 29. At both events, Dr. Grant Harrell of UF’s Mobile Outreach Clinic and his team gave out Pfizer vaccines. We also gave a $20 Publix gift card to the first 25 people to get a vaccine. We are looking forward to returning and giving out second doses at both locations in June.

At the Tower Oaks event, we were thrilled to partner with Vanessa Henry of Love Without Limits. She not only got her vaccine live on Facebook, but she also arranged for free groceries to be available during the event. We are so grateful to Vanessa and Bread of the Mighty Food Bank for helping feed our community. Many thanks also to Samantha Kimbrough for cooking a huge number of hot dogs for us to share with people who came by.

Tower Oaks, 24 May 2021

SWAG board members, volunteers, and medical students pose for a group photo in front of a vaccine distribution booth

Vanessa Henry of Love Without Limits stands with volunteers and community members at a food distribution site in May 2021

Dr. Grant Harrell of UF’s Mobile Outreach Clinic arranges medical forms in a vaccination booth in Tower Oaks Glen

SWAG board members assemble to-go meals for people coming to get vaccinated in May 2021

SWAG board members wrap hot dogs for a vaccination event in Tower Oaks Glen in May 2021

A large tray full of hot dogs cooked by Samantha Kimbrough for a SWAG vaccine distribution event

Juice boxes and snacks are piled high on an outdoor table to be given away to people receiving vaccines in Tower Oaks Glen

SWAG board members set up an outdoor vaccination tent in Tower Oaks Glen in May 2021

A UF medical student volunteer and a community member who has just received a vaccine smile together for the camera

Three UF medical student volunteers stand together under an outdoor tent at a vaccination event in May 2021

Boxes of groceries from Bread of the Mighty Food Bank are stacked high in the Tower Oaks Glen neighborhood

Stacks of to-go meals are ready to be given to community members coming by the vaccine booth in Tower Oaks Glen

A Tower Oaks Glen community member receives a vaccine dose at a distribution event in May 2021

The Bread of the Mighty Food Bank truck pulls into the Tower Oaks Glen neighborhood to distribute free groceries

Majestic Oaks, 29 May 2021

A sign directs people to where they can get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Majestic Oaks neighborhood in May 2021

SWAG board member McLinda Gilchrist and Dr. Grant Harrell of the UF Mobile Outreach Clinic hold a $20 Publix gift card

SWAG board members McLinda Gilchrist and Dorothy Thomas stand together in front of a vaccine distribution tent

Samantha Kimbrough wears a SWAG shirt and stands next to a SWAG banner at a vaccine distribution event in May 2021

A Majestic Oaks community member receives a vaccine from a UF medical student volunteer during a May 2021 distribution event

SWAG board member McLinda Gilchrist stands with a Majestic Oaks community member

SWAG board members McLinda Gilchrist and Dorothy Thomas smile for the camera with a fellow community member

UF medical student volunteers sit in front of a SWAG banner during a COVID-19 vaccination event in Majestic Oaks

The BOCC Approved ‘Joan Canton Way’

On May 25, the Board of County Commissioners voted to designate a portion of SW 61 Street and SW 8 Avenue between SW 20 Avenue and Tower Road (SW 75 Street) in honor of SWAG visionary Joan Canton. We are so excited to see Joan’s name displayed in the community she loved and worked so hard for. Read more about this event, read some of the public comments, and see more photos HERE.

SWAG visionary Joan Canton receives a standing ovation at a County Commission meeting designating a road in her honor.

SWAG members, friends, and family of Joan Canton attend a BOCC meeting to support the naming of Joan Canton Way

SWAG Board Member Miriam Gonzales speaking at the Board of County Commissioners’ vote to name Joan Canton Way

SWAG Board Member Dorothy Thomas makes a joke at a Board of County Commissioners meeting

SWAG leader speaking at the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners Meeting on May 25, 2021

Joan Canton's daughter, Dana, speaking at the Board of County Commissioners' vote to designate a road in honor of her mother

SWAG Board Chair Dorothy Benson speaking at the Board of County Commissioners’ vote to name Joan Canton Way

SWAG members, friends, and family of Joan Canton stand outside the County Commission building in May 2021