Neighbors, Church Team Up To Promote Health In Newhallville

The Newhallville Community Management Team (CMT) is on a mission to make Newhallville the ​“healthiest neighborhood in New Haven.”

In partnership with Hamden’s Mount Zion Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, the Newhallville CMT hosted the first of a series of mini-health clinics at the corner of Shelton and Ivy Street Monday afternoon with that goal in mind.

Members of the CMT and Mount Zion volunteered at the event to distribute bread, fresh peaches, diapers, and gift cards to Newhallville residents.

Under a tent, volunteer nurses from the neighborhood measured neighbors’ blood pressure, weight, and discussed ways to improve their eating habits.

Annamarie Perkins, who has lived in Newhallville for 25 years, came to the event to pick up free goods. She stayed to volunteer at the health tent. ​“Early detection is so important,” said Perkins. ​“This can give someone who needs it the push to see a doctor.”

Perkins said she is looking forward to more health awareness in the neighborhood because she has been dealing with health issues all throughout the pandemic.

“I came to receive and give because it feels so good to have a strong community,” she said. ​“Not only are they coming out with what they have, but they’re asking what more they can do.”

Volunteers distributed goods through drive-through and walk-up lines.

The Newhallville CMT decided on the Shelton-Ivy corner to get neighbors’ input on what services they would like to see at the vacant Mt. Zion SDA Church Community Center building.

“In a little bit you’re not going to be able to recognize this place,” said Newhallville CMT Chair Kim Harris.

Pastor Oliver Archer became the new head pastor at Mt. Zion SDA Church in March. One of his top priorities is to restore the vacant community center for Newhallville residents to get basic resources as they once did when the center was lively decades ago.

Monetary donations can be made via Cash App. The church is accepting funds at $MtZionSDAHamden. Place in the description: ​“Shelton Ave. Community Center.”

“This is at the top of my to-do list,” he said. ​“When I started, everyone was telling me ​‘Don’t forget Shelton Avenue.’”

Former Mt. Zion community service director and retired NHPD Lt. Dwight Ware is assisting with the church’s efforts to bring back the center.

“This place use to be people’s lifelines,” he said. ​“Whatever they needed they could count on us being here for them.”

The community center at 254 Shelton Ave has been vacant for about 20 years. It was one of the first centers in Newhallville to meet the community where it’s at with basic essential resources, said Archer.

Once restored, the center will push for the community to make healthful life style changes with the help of educational programming, cooking, and food services, Archer said.

Walk-up participants Monday filled out surveys asking about additional basic essentials they would like to see given out at the clinics.

Ware said the center will be one of many steps needed to heal the community. He also proposed that the center be used as a cooling and warming center during the summer and winter seasons for Newhallville residents.

The church is currently fundraising to raise money for the demolition and rebuilding of the center.

Mt. Zion Church member and community health advocate Kimberly Holmes-James said she is looking forward to bringing cooking and diabetes awareness classes, high blood pressure prevention, and life skill resources to the center.

The group of volunteers ended the afternoon with a closing prayer led by Archer.