DotFest 2022: A Community Carnival

DotHouse Health proudly presents our upcoming virtual fundraiser DotFest 2022: A Community Carnival
on Thursday evening, May 19th, 2022. Proceeds from DotFest will go to supporting our community programs related to
the food pantry, Teen Center, and aquatics programming.

DotFest is a celebration of our diverse community of sponsors, staff, board members, neighbors, and individual donors. DotFest remains as a vital annual fundraising event for DotHouse as the need in our community is now more critical than ever before.

For this year’s fundraiser, DotFest will honor three incredible advocates with strong connections to the DotHouse Health Community - Dr. Thea James, Jamison Cloud, and Megan Sonderegger, RN. Our honorees reflect the strength and diversity of our neighborhoods, and all have a passion in continuing to improve access to health care and reduce disparities in our communities.

Last year we raised an amazing $57,000 which helped to defray the costs of a COVID-19 Community Testing Unit, patient care kits which contained non-perishable food and PPE, and our COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. The cumulative COVID-19 positivity rate in our core service area zip codes of Dorchester is 18.6%, among the highest rate in the city of Boston. In response to the pandemic, DotHouse worked to respond to both COVID and non-COVID related demands and needs.

In 2021, we performed over 8,600 COVID-19 tests and provided 14,500 vaccinations. We provided comprehensive medical services to over 21,000 patients last year, a 7% increase over 2020 and a 3% increase from 2019. The COVID-19 impacts of unemployment and loss of income coupled with infection control precautions (limited grocery store hours, crowding situations at stores, supply chain not keeping up with demand) and remote schooling created a variety of financial pressures for families regarding food, housing and other income supports. In response DotHouse increased capacity by 20% at our food pantry, provided enhanced case management services related to housing, hunger prevention and unemployment, and facilitated access to insurance education and enrollment during a time of great upheaval for so many patient families.

DotHouse Health offers a wealth of resources and services that enable people to receive care and stay well. Our community programs serve over 2,000 people annually. By connecting patients and members of our community with holistic primary care, social services, and community programs – all under one roof – we help build a stronger and healthier community.

We invite you to join us in celebrating the DotHouse Health vision of great health, well-being, and quality of life in the community.

May 5th, 2022 - Deadline to be included in Program Book