Volunteer Support at BCHD's COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Educators
More than 80 volunteers in clinical and non-clinical roles have supported Beach Cities Health District’s (BCHD) COVID-19 vaccine clinics for South Bay educators. We have received an overwhelming response of interest in supporting our efforts at the COVID-19 testing site and vaccine clinics and have sincere gratitude for the generous spirit of the community to pitch in and support.

"We are pleased to partner with the L.A. County Department of Public Health, Supervisor Janice Hahn, the City of Manhattan Beach and our school districts on our vaccination site that will allow local educators to get the COVID-19 vaccine," said Tom Bakaly, CEO of Beach Cities Health District. "Our team, including many volunteers, will use the lessons learned from administering more than 135,000 COVID-19 tests at our Redondo Beach site to make this vaccine site efficient and effective. We are ready to vaccinate our educators as promptly as possible. Vaccines are an additional tool in the fight against COVID-19 in addition to physical distancing, wearing face masks correctly, washing our hands and avoiding crowds. We're going to need to use all available tools to get through this pandemic together."

Check out some of the news coverage on BCHD’s vaccination site for local South Bay Educators:
Healthy Living Campus
The Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Healthy Living Campus on Beach Cities Health District's property at 514 N. Prospect Ave. is now available. BCHD has extended the requisite 45-day public review and comment period to 90 days, extending from March 10 through June 10.

Official public comments about the technical sufficiency of the Draft EIR impact analysis, mitigation measures, and alternatives will be accepted until June 10, 2021 at 5 p.m. PT.
How to Comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report

90-Day Public Review and Comment Period: March 10 - June 10, 2021
There are a variety of ways to submit written or oral public comments.

Website: bchdcampus.org/eir
Email:  [email protected]
Mail: Nick Meisinger re: Healthy Living Campus 
Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. 
9177 Sky Park Ct. 
San Diego, CA 92123 
Provide oral comments during one of these public opportunities: 
 
Public comments at the March 24 meeting will begin following the Draft EIR presentation by Wood Environment at the regularly scheduled BCHD Board of Directors meeting.

For more information on how to submit a comment or join a meeting, visit bchdcampus.org/eir 
Join the March Virtual Volunteer Social!

“I’m really enjoying the BCHD Volunteer Social Hour on Zoom each month. Although I was not a Zoom fan, I’m getting used to it and really having fun and getting to better know the other volunteers!” -Kim Neglia, Conversation Companion
 
March Spring Social! Let’s welcome spring together!!!
 
Wednesday, March 24 from 1-2 p.m.
 
We will kick off our social with a show and tell so “bring” your favorite springtime item to share. We will then play a fun game of “2 Truths and a Lie” so come prepared with three statements about yourself- two which are true, and one which is a lie. We will take turns guessing each other’s lie.
 
At the end, we will do a drawing and anyone who attends is eligible to win a prize.
 
There is room for EVERYONE and NO RSVP is needed! Please see below for meeting info:
 
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 973 0302 5385
Passcode: 576038
 
Save the Date for our April Social on April 21 from 1-2 p.m.
Beach Cities Health District continues to publish a regular newsletter, website updates and social media posts to inform the community of the latest information regarding COVID-19 health guidance, testing, closures and recovery. Be a health leader in the community by staying informed and staying safe.
 
Check this page on our site for other ways to help during COVID-19
While many BCHD volunteer roles continue to be on hold for safety reasons, some committees are meeting virtually, and others are providing support to isolated and vulnerable residents running errands for essential supplies and delivering meals. We also have volunteers making check-in calls to BCHD clients, which increases connection and reduces social isolation from a distance. There are volunteers operating computers and calling people who tested positive for COVID-19 at the Redondo Beach testing site, as well as volunteers and interns assisting with special projects. Volunteers have also begun supporting BCHD’S COVID-19 vaccine clinics for educators in both clinical and non-clinical roles.
2021 Volunteer Hours

While volunteer support has changed with our continued adaptations due to COVID-19 in 2020 and the hours reported below don’t even fully capture the support people have given to the community, we are grateful for the 15,330 reported hours of BCHD volunteer service in 2020. Thank you! We know BCHD volunteers will continue doing remarkable things in 2021.

January: 1,136
February: 1,178
Stay tuned...
Volunteer Anniversaries

Although many of you aren’t actively volunteering in your usual roles right now, we are endlessly grateful for your commitment. The many collective years of effort toward a healthy beach community from our volunteers is truly incredible.
March

Cheryl Tarango, 16
Fred Manna, 15
Donna Lombardi, 7
Cory O'Meara, 6
Barbara York, 5
Elle Oliver, 5
Kathleen Terry, 4
Gladys Moreno, 3
Kitty Spencer, 3
Linda Keenan, 3
Max Kelber, 2
Pari Afzali, 1
Hearee Chung, 1

* Official years of service in BCHD system.
Just for Fun Puzzle Time!
Enjoy some down time solving this super fun crossword puzzle using the clues below.
February Answer Key
Safe in the South Bay Series: Reopening and Returning to the Workplace
Join an esteemed panel of experts who will provide the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccines and the ways residents, organizations, businesses, schools and the Beach Cities community can support COVID-19 recovery. 
Panelists:
  • Moe Gelbart, PhD, Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment, Torrance Memorial Medical Center
  • Umme-Aiman Halai, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
  • David Shavelle, MD, Keck Medicine of USC
  • Lisa Von Eschen, The Maloney Firm
Wednesday, March 24
5 – 6:30 p.m.
B-Well
Held in partnership with BeachLife Festival, B-Well offers health tools to increase happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign will feature celebrity appearances, social media videos, livestream performances and more.
Thursday, March 25
6 – 7 p.m.
LIVESTREAM featuring performances by
Kevin Sousa and Gavin Heaney

Saturday, March 27
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Live Virtual Mental Health & Happiness Workshop: Cultivate Bravery
Virtual Blue Zones Project Nutrition Workshop
In collaboration with Cancer Support Community, Registered Dietitian Marissa Martorana will discuss how to eat well during cancer treatments, address common side effects and share tips to support proper nutrition and hydration. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Friday, March 26
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Virtual Happiness Chats
Support your well-being with casual discussions focused on connection and resilience. Attend one or all chats!
 Tuesdays in April
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.