West Virginia’s efforts in regard to the COVID-19 vaccination efforts have received a lot of attention.

 

It’s justifiable as well with the state continuing to lead the country in getting dosages not only distributed but shots in people’s arms.

That level of efficiency requires a lot of moving parts at both the state and local levels. The GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club has certainly had a role in that success.

 

“Carla Engle messaged me to see if the GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club would be interested in helping out with answering phones for the vaccine hotline,” Sarah Dodson said. “Her friend, Cathy Rennard, who is the Outreach Director for West Virginia VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), and was working to recruit volunteers to answer phone calls in Harrison County and help generate a list of people wanting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.”

 

Under the direction of Laura Pysz, the Director of the Harrison County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the GFWC Bridgeport Junior Women’s Club jumped right in and lent a helping hand, putting in more than 75 hours of volunteer work the first week the county hotline was up and running.

 

“Every shift I worked, the phones were ringing off the hook and as soon as I hung up the phone, the next call would come in even with multiple volunteers answering the phones,” Dodson said. “I knew that the traffic on those phone lines was super heavy, and we were signing up around a thousand people each day.

 

“Answering the phones had a frantic pace but my heart got filled each time I talked to someone calling the hotline. Every single person I spoke with was so happy to be able to get through and extremely hopeful to be able to put their name on the list.”

 

The Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department would gather the list of people who called each day and started the process of calling back with appointment times.

 

Statewide, the pre-registration process for vaccinations changed two weeks ago when the Everbridge system went live. However, Dodson said Harrison County is continuing to have its own call center.

 

“As far as the hotline, Harrison County will continue to answer our hotline and help the transition to the new state hotline and registration process,” Pysz said.

 

The experience was a fulfilling one for the Junior Woman's Club.

 

“I could go on and on,” Lindsey Luck said. “It truly is a remarkable experience. To hear how grateful these people are warms the heart.”

 

“Hearing the joy in people’s voices over the phone was energizing,” Michelle Duez said. “There was a sense of relief and gratefulness. People were kind and said thank you. I’m so glad I had this opportunity. I was there to work but I felt like it did me good.”