Malta and City of Hartford Partner on #Getvaxxed Campaign

#Getvaxxed Clinic at Malta | January 19, 2023

Malta House of Care, Inc. and the City of Hartford Health and Human Service Department are partnering to provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters and flu vaccines to anyone ages 5 and up at two Malta House of Care locations in Hartford. No appointment is needed.

Starting on January 19th, vaccines will be available on the third Thursday of each month, through March. Vaccines will be available on January 19th, February 16th, and March 16th at:

  • Malta House of Care’s clinic at 136 Farmington Avenue from 10:00 to 11:30 am, and
  • Malta House of Care’s mobile medical clinic site at St. Augustine’s Church at 10 Campfield Avenue from 12:30pm to 2:30pm

COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the state, impacting communities hardest hit by the virus and its ripple effects, especially lower income communities and uninsured residents in Malta’s catchment area.  COVID-19 spread and the continued impact of a hard-hitting flu season make it imperative that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters and flu vaccines are more accessible to residents at higher-risk of contracting the viruses and harsher symptoms of the viruses.

The City of Hartford and Malta House of Care, Inc. with its trusted relationships with uninsured residents of the city, are committed to vaccination access for Hartford residents.

On January 19, 2023, community organizations were onsite at Malta’s location on Farmington Avenue to assist residents with related needs, including The United Way, the Hartford Public Library’s American Place, and City of Hartford Health and Human Services.  Malta House of Care is also partnering with the Cathedral Food Pantry, located in the same structure, which opens its doors on every Thursday morning. The United Way Young Legends Program will be at the Food Pantry to offer $50 gift cards to those completing the Young Adult Employment Survey.

While the City’s “goal” is to create access for Hartford underserved residents, anyone five and over is eligible. Vaccinations and boosters are available regardless of insurance status. 

For more information on the #Getvaxxed campaign, visit getvaxxed.info or call 860.757.4700, option 3.

 

As part of the event, Malta was happy to have Hartford’s Young Legends group host a table at our #Getvaxxed clinic. Young Legends is a youth-led, youth-built team of young adults that work together to push youth voice within the community with the help of the Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative. They are focusing on increasing employment rates in Hartford and are currently hosting a Youth and Young Adult Employment survey and giving youth (ages 16-29) $50 gift cards for taking the survey.

 

 

View the press release.

Vaccine Clinic – Thursday, January 19th

Malta House of Care is proud to partner with the Hartford Department of Health and Human Services and their Get Vaxxed program to offer a Vaccine Clinic at two locations on Thursday, January 19th. Covid-19 Vaccines, Boosters, and Flu Vaccines will be available while supplies last. No appointment needed. Vaccines for ages 5+

10am – 11:30am
Malta Clinic
136 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT

12:30pm-2pm
St Augustine Church
10 Campfield Avenue, Hartford, CT

For more information call 860.757.4700, option 3

Congratulations to Malta’s inaugural Community Partner Award winners!

On Thursday, December 1, 2022 we celebrated the Magic of Magic and presented our inaugural Community Partner Awards to three partners who have gone above and beyond to show care and concern for others. Malta relies on the support from its generous donors and also need partners in our community to help us take care of our patients. Some are obvious partners for health care support … and some not so obvious. Our inaugural Community Partner Awards recognize:

  • Laurence Burnsed, Director of Health and Social Services in East Hartford, in appreciation of your and the Town of East Hartford’s immediate partnership and collaboration with Malta’s staff and our patients, including direct assistance with health care and other needs at our clinic site in East Hartford and your assistance with connecting patients outside of East Hartford to their local social service agencies. (Mayor Michael Walsh was there to present the award along with Malta)
  • Julie Redding, Hartford Public Library’s The American Place AJC Site Manager/Liaiso, in appreciation of your hard work in helping many of our patients who are immigrants access services and information at The American Place that they might otherwise not receive. (accepted by Bridget Quinn, President and CEO of Hartford Public Library on her behalf)
  • Nesti Risto, Pharmacy Manager at a local Stop & Shop Pharmacy, in appreciation of your hard work in going above and beyond in helping our patients access no cost and affordable medications that they truly need. (accepted by colleague Migdalia Ortiz on his behalf)

On behalf of the Malta House of Care board, staff, volunteers and, most importantly, our patients, Executive Director Victoria Veltri expressed deep gratitude to all three of our awardees for being a true partners in our mission. For over 16 years, Malta has provided no cost primary care to the uninsured adults in the Greater Hartford region. Thanks to the efforts of our recipients, Malta has been able to go the extra mile for its patients. 

The Magic of Malta event, hosted by Jocelyn Maminta, Malta Wonder Woman Class of 2013, Former CT News Anchor/Reporter, and Co-Founder of Caroline’s Room, was a huge success. Thank you to our lead sponsors Cigna and Trumbull Family Foundation; silver sponsors Rossmore Private Capital and Liberty Bank; and bronze sponsor CT Health Foundation. Over 70 guests enjoyed a private viewing of a new exhibition at the Connecticut Science Center, “The Forest of Illusion,” enjoyed up-close magic with magician Christopher Hulbert, a cocktail reception, good company, and the premier of a new video featuring Malta’s new clinic in the words of its patients. Thank you to everyone who attended! Help Malta continue to Make Magic by donating today!

Up-close private viewing of CT Science Center’s new exhibit at Magic of Malta event

Join us at our Magic of Malta event on December 1st for an up-close private viewing of the not-yet-opened “Forest of Illusions” exhibition opening just days before our special event. We look forward to having you celebrate with us! Tickets on sale now!

Learn more about this special event!

 

The CT Science Center describes the new traveling exhibition:

Follow the winding path through our Forest of Illusions, where your eyes and mind will be put to the test as you encounter some mind-bending optical illusions. Explore color and light in a whole new way as you mix things up on the interactive light wall. Find your way out of the darkness in a true black hallway that will distort your sense of depth… and space. Step inside a human-sized kaleidoscope for an entirely new perspective. Wander into the UV Cave, where the rocks will shine like you have never seen before. This forest holds many dark secrets, all waiting for you to uncover the truth. But one thing is certain in this Forest of Illusions – you won’t believe your eyes.

  • MIXING LIGHT: Mix things up on our interactive RGB light wall
  • UV CAVE: Step inside our cave, where the rocks will shine under various types of UV light
  • TRUE BLACK: Venture into a pitch-black hallway that distorts your sense of depth…and space
  • HUMAN KALEIDOSCOPE: You’re about to see things in a whole new way when you walk into our kaleidoscope that’s taller than a human
  • HEAT SEEKER: Have some fun testing our infra-red camera
  • GREEN SCREEN: Now you see it, now you don’t. Play with different backgrounds and costumes against our green screen for different outcomes.
  • OPTICAL ILLUSIONS: You will encounter all sorts of mind-bending optical illusions as you walk through our forest, can you solve them all?
  • INSECT ILLUSIONS AND BIO-MIMICRY: Nature is playing tricks on you too! See how various insects use illusions to hide from predators and stay safe

 

Join the celebration and Purchase Tickets

 

 

Magic of Malta Event tickets on sale

We are excited to invite you to come celebrate the Magic of Malta on Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 5:30-8:30pm at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. The evening is hosted by Jocelyn Maminta, Malta Wonder Woman class of 2013, former CT News Anchor/Reporter and Co-Founder of Caroline’s Room. The evening includes a private viewing of the new exhibition “The Forest of Illusion,” a cocktail reception, close up magic with the Magic of Christopher, and a presentation of the Malta Community Partner Awards.

Become a Sponsor for the event or join the celebration and Purchase Tickets
$100 per person (includes a $50 tax-deductible donation). Please reply by Monday, November 28, 2022.

Learn more about this special event!

 

Proceeds to benefit the Malta House of Care Clinic of Greater Hartford, providing comprehensive, compassionate, completely free primary health care to uninsured Connecticut adults since 2006.

Successful Flu Clinic Series

This year’s flu clinics brought six times more people than we helped in 2021. It was a great success and we are grateful for our partnership with Optum to help our community stay healthy and safe.

We offered FREE flu vaccines to over 180 uninsured and under-insured people in Hartford and East Hartford at three clinics in September and October.

NEW Patient Registration Hours Now Available

New Patient Registration
Tuesday through Friday | 9am-11am
Malta House of Care Clinic
136 Farmington Avenue, Hartford

To become a patient at Malta House, you must meet three criteria:

  • Age 18 or older
  • No insurance 
  • Bring photo ID

We will be open for new patient registration only Tuesday through Friday mornings from 9am-11am at Malta’s Clinic at 136 Farmington Avenue. New patients will have the opportunity to fill out paperwork/forms prior to scheduling a provider visit to help minimize crowds during their scheduled patient visit. We look forward to meeting you soon!

New patients or those requiring same-day care are asked to first call the office at 860.725.0171. If you speak a language other than English, Spanish, or Portuguese, please bring an English-speaking friend or family member to act as an interpreter.

Click here to download the flyer!

WFSB Channel 3 covers Opening Event, includes words from Chairman Brian Sheehan

New community in Hartford to provide health care and food

By Ayah Galal and Evan Sobol
Published: Sep. 21, 2022 at 6:55 PM EDT

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – A new cathedral community center has opened its doors in Hartford.

It’s going to help more people in the capital city get access to healthcare and food.

This will help more people who don’t have health insurance and are food insecure.

Malta House has been serving the community with mobile vans for years.

Now that they have an actual building, they can more than double the patients they see.

“The Malta House project really gets to the heart of our mission. Our very essence which is working collaboratively and joining in projects that make life better for the poor and needy and the vulnerable,” said James Smith, General Chair of The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation.

The building will serve as the new permanent location for the Malta House of Care clinic and the Cathedral Food Pantry.

It’s located in the shadow of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph on its Farmington Avenue campus.

New patient rooms mean enhanced quality of care.

“We aim to be a valued and helpful contributor for the betterment of our communities and for the fulfillment of our mission,” said James.

The state-of-the-art outpatient clinic will allow Malta House to expand its services beyond Greater Hartford.

Since 2006, Malta House has provided over 70,000 free patient visits to uninsured people from 51 countries.

Services are free to people of all faiths.

“It’s an organization that was born right here in the city of Hartford to address health disparities in our community by serving the underserved and providing free primary care services to uninsured adults,” said Brian Sheehan, Chairman of Malta House of Care.

The new cathedral food pantry will allow expanded hours as well as food delivery to the homebound.

“As many struggle to survive the painful reality that was imposed on our society first by the pandemic and now by escalating inflation and unforeseen financial challenges. The food pantry is indeed a lifeline for our sisters and brothers in need,” said Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford.

The center is a $6.8 million project made possible with the help of grants and donors.

No local, federal or state funds were used on this project.

Copyright 2022 WFSB. All rights reserved.

 

Watch and read the original here.

Fox 61 covers Clinic Opening, includes Vicki Veltri interview

$8M privately funded food pantry, primary care center comes to Hartford

“The heart of charity in the center of Hartford,” said Archbishop Leonard Blair.

Author: Jim Altman
Fox 61
Published: 6:49 PM EDT September 20, 2022
Updated: 7:09 PM EDT September 20, 2022

HARTFORD, Conn. — The exterior of an old red brick building on Farmington Avenue in Hartford looks largely as it has for decades – it’s the inside that has been completely changed.

The Archdiocese of Hartford, The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation and The Malta House of Care celebrated Tuesday the opening of a collaborative project, The Cathedral Community Center.

Six years in the making and an estimated $8 million raised in private funds, the new center will provide the people of Greater Hartford two benefits: access to primary care and a food pantry.

“It’s brought together to offer people one location where they can get their health care when they need it,” said Vicki Veltri, the executive director of the Malta House of Care. “They can get access to food, many of our patients are food insecure.”

Archbishop Leonard Blair was proudly walking the grounds outside the Cathedral Community Center, which sits right next to the Cathedral of Saint Joseph on Farmington Avenue.

“This is the heart of charity here in the center of Hartford,” Blair said, and added, “It’s a wonderful day.”

The funds raised for the Cathedral Community Center came from private and corporate donors – no state or federal funds were used.

The Malta House of Care, which is known for providing mobile vans that offer health care in the Hartford area, will continue the mission but now there is a dedicated state-of-the-art brick-and-mortar clinic to tend to patients.

“This will enable them [The Malta House] to increase by two and a half times the number of people they’re able to serve here,” Blair said.

“This is our mission – to get people comprehensive primary care and the fact that we can open our doors on this day is really gratifying,” Veltri added, standing by the front doors of the health clinic.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the Cathedral Community Center was held Tuesday with staff and supporters cheering the accomplishment.

 

Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News.

 

Watch and read the original piece here.