Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program

BHERC ‘Operation Love’ Aids Union Rescue Mission During COVID-19

Sentinel News ServiceApril 22, 2020

The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) continued its “Operation Love” outreach April 19, with a drive to collect toilet paper for the Union Rescue Mission (URM). Located on skid row in downtown L.A., URM works directly with homeless individuals through its life-transforming ministry focused on the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. BHERC is a nonprofit, public benefit organization designed to advocate, educate, research, develop, and preserve the history and future of Black images in film and television. The “Operation Love” effort was planned to meet a dire, essential, and practical need during the COVID-19 pandemic. BHERC

COVID-19 Health Local

Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program Distributes Free Masks and Sanitizers to Seniors

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Staff WriterApril 16, 2020

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

Religion

God’s Guidance Inspires Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program’s Response to COVID-19

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorApril 1, 2020

As the coronavirus rapidly enveloped the country, Dr. Bill Releford prayed for God’s direction to help the African American community in the greater South L.A. area. Releford, who founded the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, requested God’s guidance in using his skills and talents to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, in Black people. In response to Releford’s request, God gave him a tangible solution – distribute free sanitizers and face masks to the community, which is what Releford did on March 27. Joined by members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, he and the men