COMMUNITY HEADLINES – JANUARY 10, 2022

COVID-19 TESTING RESUMES AT SAVANNAH CIVIC CENTER

(CHATHAM COUNTY, GA) Free COVID-19 testing by the Coastal Health District will resume at the Savannah Civic Center beginning Monday, January 10, 2022. Testing operations at the location were temporarily suspended because of previously scheduled events in the arena. When testing resumes, samples will be collected in the Civic Center’s parking lot.The Civic Center testing site will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and the first and third Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

FARM TRUCK 912 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

(SAVANNAH, GA) Forsyth Farmers’ Market has launched a new capital campaign initiative for its Farm Truck 912 program. Farm Truck 912 is a mobile farmers’ market program that brings fresh produce from local farmers to Savannah’s communities, with a focus on food-insecure neighborhoods. At a press conference held on Jan. 8, the organization announced plans to raise $150,000 to purchase a new farm truck. For more information, visit forsythfarmersmarket.org or contact Jeb Bush at jeb@ffm-sav.org or 803-942-5119. Forsyth Farmers’ Market, along with its Farm Truck 912 program which receives funding from the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant, is proud to be among the 200 community partners and organizations working with Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia to elevate the health and wellness of our community through the five-year, $3.4 million REACH grant. Awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the funds are being deployed in Savannah/Chatham County to reduce health inequities experienced by Black residents in low-wealth neighborhoods and increase the availability of high-quality nutrition, promote physical activity by creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; and foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them.

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) Shawntay Gadson, an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) will be hosting the “Mommy Moments Breastfeeding Support Group” on Jan. 11th from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom. Register for the event at www.glowlactation.com or by contacting Shawntay directly at (912) 758-3438.

REFER FRIENDS OR FAMILY, GET $50

(CENTER PARC CREDIT UNION) Did you know that you can receive $50 for every family member or eligible friend or co-worker you refer to become a member of Center Parc? And they’ll get $50 too! After you let them know all the benefits of being a Credit Union member, just make sure to fill out the online form: https://www.centerparc.org/resources/special-offers/?fbclid=IwAR1zwiv-olQqpWRQu-hP3CRkM7fhxvB2wmN4j_erflav2FQX2rleZlmglgE#memberreferral

HOW TO USE INSTAGRAM COLLABS FOR BUSINESS

(SOCIAL MEDIA EXAMINER) Want more reach with your Instagram content? Are you taking advantage of the Collab feature? In this video, expert Nicky Saunders outlines how to use the Instagram Collab feature to easily gain more visibility for your reels and posts. You’ll discover exactly what an Instagram Collab is, how it can impact your business, and some ways to use it for maximum exposure.

STEP UP SAVANNAH

(STEP UP SAVANNAH) Step Up Savannah is proud to be among the 200 community partners and organizations working with Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia to elevate the health and wellness of our community through the five-year, $3.4 million grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health. In the fall of 2021, Step Up Savannah helped serve 4,006 individuals through Public Benefits Program. Step Up Savannah is here to serve one family at a time. https://stepupsavannah.org/

HOPE NEEDS A HOME

(COASTAL PET RESCUE) Hope came in with one of the worst cases of flea allergy we have ever seen, her skin was scabby and bleeding. With great care, she’s now healed and so has her personality. She has blossomed into an active pup who enjoys playing with our youth volunteers in the play yard. She can play rough with other dogs and does best with those her size and activity level, but no felines for her.

FREE COURSE: START & GROW YOUR BUSINESS

(SAVANNAHGA.GOV) Start & Grow Your Business is an in-depth 10-week series on how to start and grow a successful business. Topics covered include: Business Planning, Accounting & Taxes, Marketing, Legal forms of business, Financing and Capital. Materials are provided and participation is welcome. 1st series runs from January 13-March 17 and 2nd series from March 24-May 26. Registration required. To attend class online go to Zoom.com, select ‘Join a Meeting’ and enter meeting # 921 5864 7367 or visit https://savannahga.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYscuGuqjwpHNPCWpVoPVMzvLMSkU9uJGPE.

HOW TO ADOPT EMERGING SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS

(SOCIAL MEDIA EXAMINER) In this video, the CEO and founder of Social Media Examiner, Mike Stelzner, walks you through what it CAN be like to be an early adopter of an emerging trend. Discover the three primary lessons of early adoption and how it can help you get ahead of more cautious players in your industry. You’ll also learn how we discovered and approached a brand new trend, the immediate results we saw, how we built a follow-through strategy afterward, and where we ended up in the long term.

COLONIAL CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Colonial Chemical Solutions, Inc. (CCS), a subsidiary of Savannah-based Colonial Group, Inc., has announced the acquisition of Industrial Chemicals Inc. The 80-year-old company, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, provides a wide selection of industrial chemicals and offers services including repackaging, storage, custom blending, contract storage and packaging, and chemical logistical support. Visit https://colonialchemicals.com/

SEIMITSU NEW HIRE

(SAVANNAH, GA) Seimitsu, a Savannah-based business specializing in IT services and high-speed broadband fiber, is pleased to announce that Brendan West has joined the family-owned firm as Director of Fiber & Infrastructure Operations. West’s responsibilities include day-to-day operations for fiber and infrastructure design, construction and implementation. For more info, call 1.912.352.3689 or visit www.seimitsu.com.

‘LIVING WELL TOGETHER’ COURSE AIMS TO HELP FAMILIES WITH DISABLED CHILDREN

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society wants to share with its member families and other families raising children with developmental or physical challenges news about a special 10-week program intended to help such families prepare for transition while setting and reaching goals for a healthy lifestyle.

FREE VACCINE ACCESS IN WEST CHATHAM COUNTY

(CHATHAM COUNTY, GA) The YMCA of Coastal Georgia is partnering with the Georgia Department of Public Health to provide free vaccine access at the West Chatham YMCA in Pooler. The vaccine clinic is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and offers the following vaccinations: Monday & Wednesday: Pfizer (age 12+), Pfizer booster (16+), Johnson & Johnson (18+), and Johnson & Johnson booster (18+); Thursday: Pfizer (age 12+), Pfizer booster (16+), Moderna (18+), and Moderna booster (18+). Walk-ins are accepted but appointments are recommended and can be scheduled online at CHDCovidVax.org.

AQUASMART LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

(COLONIAL GROUP) Colonial Group has announced a new website for Aqua Smart, Inc. Visit https://aquasmartinc.com/ to see the new look. Aqua Smart believes everyone deserves clean water, and manufactures a drinking water additive called SeaQuest that helps municipalities make that happen.

CALENDARS FOR SALE

(SAVANNAH, GA) The members of the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society, a support group to benefit people with Down Syndrome and their families, are selling 2022 calendars as a fundraising project. To purchase, please email info@ldssga.org, or text or call 912-663-8573. The cost is $15.00.

SENDING YOU A HERO

(SAVANNAH, GA) Healthy Savannah, in collaboration with St. Joseph’s/Candler’s African American Health Information and Resource Center, proudly presents the HERO Help Me Database. The Health Effective Resource Organizations, or HERO Help Me, is a database that refers its users to over 1,000 critical resources in Chatham County. The database is a one-stop shop for a variety of resources and services, such as healthcare providers, food assistance and nutrition, childcare, housing, physical activity, education, COVID-19 and flu information, and many more.