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Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program Distributes Free Masks and Sanitizers to Seniors By Cora Jackson-Fossett, Staff Writer Published April 16, 2020
Dr. Bill Releford, right, shows the face-masks and sanitizers to, from left, Baz Devlia and Thomas Uwal, both of the Inglewood Senior Citizens Center. (Courtesy photo) The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program (BBHOP) continues to distribute free face-masks and hand sanitizers to L.A.–area senior citizens as part of its effort to combat the spread of the COVID-19 disease among this vulnerable group. On April 9, Dr. Bill Releford, BBHOP founder, and organization members provided more than 700 masks and sanitizers to the Inglewood Senior Citizen Center. The items were dispersed to 500+ seniors who regularly receive lunch deliveries from the center. According to Human Services Superintendent Thomas Uwal, their clients were appreciative because they have been prohibited from attending the center under the governor’s social distancing directives. Also, the supplies were distributed to the center’s staff and drivers. “For Dr. Releford and BBHOP to come and share the free masks and sanitizers is very important. We think it’s great,” said Uwal. “Our seniors can’t wait to come back into the building. But, right now, we’re telling them to stay home until it is safe.” Also, BBHOP donated more than 300 face-masks and sanitizers to the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center. Releford said that Sandra Evers Manly, BHERC founder, partnered with the Black Nurses Association to distribute the items to seniors, along with free dinners, on Easter Sunday, April 12. The latest distributions marked the third time that BBHOP conducted the free allocations. Previously, the group shared the free items with seniors in Inglewood and South L.A. on March 27 and April 3.