St. Luke's Episcopal Church, which is located in the Olinville section of the Bronx, is now serving as a vaccination site after the church lost 15 members of its congregation to coronavirus. Father Pierre Andre Duvert is relieved that the worst may now be behind them.

"If I may use the expression, we have bounced back and now since that time, no one has gotten sick through coming to St. Luke's and God's been good to us" said Father Duvert.

But Father Duvert says the community has been ravaged by the pandemic. It’s one reason he and church leaders are working hard to promote the vaccines and convince the skeptics.

"They are more willing, less hesitant to take the vaccines when it's being provided at church" said Father Duvert.

He says he was among the first to get the vaccine himself as an example to parishioners who have already suffered enough loss. This, as the strain of the pandemic brings more families than ever to St. Luke's food pantry.

"We open around 7:30 in the morning on Wednesday for the pantry, by 9 p.m. on Tuesday, folks will start lining up" said Father Duvert.

The financial and emotional strain of the pandemic has been great, but Father Duvert says he's hopeful that President Biden will make good on his promise to increase the vaccine supply and take some of the pressure off of this hard-hit community.

“We're still not alone from God and because we're not alone, there's hope."