Montopolis, a neighborhood in East Austin, had some of the hihghtest rates of COVID-19. PODER and the Montopolis Neighborhood Association (MNA) initiated its campaign to protect low-income and people of color from COVID-19 in the Montopolis community by distributing free face mask, sanitizer and resource information (applying for rent, utilities support, free food distribution, diapers etc) on May 1 st , International Workers Day.  For over four months PODER and MNA have reached out to numerous housing complexes to learn about the challenge’s residents are encountering and to connect them with needed resources. PODER and MNA have teamed up with Austin Latino Coalition and Austin Public Health Department to assist in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in people of color communities.

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Since then PODER has continued to work with various partners to distribute resources through monthly events. We have been able to reach over 4,000 community members by going directly into communities that are often left behind.