Northampton Neighbors’ Vax Facts Campaign:Engaged Volunteers, Informed Residents

Northampton Neighbors is coordinating an effort to inform and engage Northampton residents about one of our most current and pressing issues facing communities across the country: the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Door tags are a simple and direct way to reach local residents, especially those lacking internet connections, having limited technical literacy or whose first language is not English,” said Madeline Lenz, Project Coordinator. Tags are printed in English and Spanish thanks to UMass Professor Luis Marentes and his Spanish Translation for Community Health Services students.

The goal of the Vax Facts Project is to ensure that every Northampton resident is fully informed about vaccines, community resources and support. Volunteers can request  or be assigned certain streets and neighborhoods. They can walk alone or in teams. NN will supply the tags to be distributed within a week of pick up. While supplies last, we’ll offer NN buttons as well as masks and gloves to those who request them.

The first step is to sign up (click the link below) then pick up packets of door tags and then you are on your way.

“As an organization whose mission is to provide volunteer services and social programs and events that focus on our seniors, NN is pleased that student volunteers are part of our Vax Facts campaign. It’s our first intergenerational volunteer effort, but it won’t be the last,” said Ken Dym, NN President. Student organizations participating include Northampton High Pathways Program and Key Club, Smith Vocational Health Tech program, the Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts, and youth groups from faith-based organizations. For students looking to fulfill community service hours, certificates of recognition acknowledge their generous service.