United Methodist Churches host COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE — Hundreds of people in the Charlotte area have United Methodist Churches to thank for hosting COVID-19 vaccine clinics. United Methodist Church sites have hosted 10 vaccine clinics with five more scheduled this week.

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“The only way we are going to end the pandemic part of this is if everybody does their part,” said Pastor Jonathan Coppedge-Henley, of Cokesbury UMC. “What we can do is make our facility available to give out vaccines.”

Cokesbury UMC held a COVID-19 vaccine clinic Thursday morning providing Moderna shots to dozens of people. Coppedge-Henley said hosting vaccine clinics is a way to “do all the good you can in all the ways you can.”

“The vaccine is a social need that crosses ethnic, economic and gender boundaries,” he said.

Hickory Grove UMC is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine event Friday morning. Last month, the east Charlotte church vaccinated more than 500 people.

Last month, Hickory Grove UMC in east Charlotte vaccinated hundreds of people.

“One lady just broke down and started crying,” co-Pastor Phyllis Coates said. “She said, ‘I didn’t think I would ever get the shot.’ I said, ‘You are getting it today.’”

Vitality Strategist for the Metro District of the United Methodist Church Stephanie Moore-Hand said UMCs are conveniently located in all parts of Charlotte.

“Our churches are in all communities from the 1% community to communities in poverty. What the church does is be with the people, engage with the community, and know where the people are,” she said. “We have buildings. We have parking lots. We have people, so why not be host sites?”

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For those on the edge, co-pastors of Hickory Grove, UMC Phyllis and George Coates, preach the benefits that the shot rewarded them, which is peace of mind and love.

“Now we can have a real family relationship, a real family get-together,” George Coates said. “We feel safe doing it.”

“It allowed me to hug my grandchildren,” Phyllis Coates said.