In 2015, experiential artist and activist Molly Gochman created the Red Sand Project to educate communities on the vulnerabilities that lead to the crime of human trafficking.
Jul 2, 2021 / 07:18 PM EDT
One of those deployed is Army Specialist Anthony Spencer of Crossville, a Cumberland University graduate who became a medic because he wanted to help people. He’s been on the front line in communities throughout Tennessee now for 15 months.
“Initially when we first started the primary mission was to help the Health Departments in testing,” said Spencer. He spoke with WATE from a clinic in Hartsville, Tenn. about 150 miles west of Knoxville.
“In the summer of last year, we started going to nursing homes here in Middle Tennessee, then I got moved out to Wilson County where I stayed for a long time. When the vaccines rolled out, as soon as we had them in hand we were trying to get people vaccinated. There were tears, tears of joy from people who were just so ready to move on with their lives and try to get back to whatever normal is going to be.”
The Trousdale County Health Department has received doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and began distributing them this week.
First responders and health care workers began receiving the vaccine on Tuesday, according to Brittany Cox, assistant regional director of Mid-Cumberland Regional Health Office.
Trousdale County received the Moderna vaccine as part of a shipment of 115,000 doses sent to Tennessee after the vaccine received emergency use approval from the Food & Drug Administration.
“We’re in Phase 1a1 and anyone can go to tn.gov and look at the vaccination plan for the State of Tennessee to see where they fall,” Cox said. “In Phase 1a1, we’re helping first responders, home health care providers and student health care providers.”