Baptist Healthy Communities

If you are interested in signing up for Baptist Healthy Communities and have not already done so, please visit baptistcommunities.org. For more information or to make sure your faith organization or community agency is on our list, please contact us at 901-227-3512 or annmarie.wallace@bmhcc.org.

Health News and Information

Baptist Operation Outreach Tree of Faith, Hope & Love Campaign

The homeless community remains among the most vulnerable and exposed during this pandemic. In addition to needing permanent housing and health care (which Baptist Operation Outreach provides free of charge), they also need toiletries and other personal items. Baptist Operation Outreach Tree of Faith, Hope & Love campaign helps provide toiletries and other necessities for them. Your organization can support this community by making a donation. Please go here by Dec. 15 to make a donation. 

Here’s how your contribution can help:

• $5 will get needed female hygiene items
• $10 will buy a travel-size hygiene kit
• $15 will buy all of the above
• $20 will buy the above along with extras for each client

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cancer among both men and women in the United States. Baptist Cancer Center doctors are leading efforts to diagnose lung cancer earlier through innovative screening techniques. Go here to assess your risk.

PPE Grant for Small Churches

Shelby County Government is offering a grant for live streaming equipment or personal protective equipment of up to $1,500. Contact Dominique Winfrey at Dominique.winfrey@shelbycountytn.gov or call 901-222-2011 for more information.

Free Grief Support Groups

November 19 is Children’s Grief Awareness Day. Children grieve just as adults do when they lose a loved one. However, children express their grief in different ways. And they need support and comfort during these times. Baptist Centers for Good Grief offer free grief support services for children and adults. To register for a grief support group, call 901-861-5656 in Tennessee and Mississippi and 870-936-7719 in Arkansas and Missouri.

October Roundup

October was a busy month! We supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month, helping to raise awareness of the disease and how to detect it early through an awareness campaign and numerous walks/runs in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. We supported the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk in Jackson, Mississippi. We championed World Mental Health Day and illuminated hope in our hospital communities. And we talked to Lorine Cady, the executive director and founder of House of Grace, a residential shelter and support service provider for battered women and their children.

Watch: Lorine Cady, executive director of House of Grace, discusses domestic violence and support services available in North Mississippi. Call the crisis hotline at 662-342-1432 or 662-342-3900 24 hours a day. Go to https://www.houseofgracedv.org/ for more information.

Watch: Baptist Cancer Center doctors share why scheduled mammograms are important.

See Facebook Post: Baptist supports World Mental Health Day and illuminates hope with Canopy Children’s Solutions.

Health Tips

Join Baptist Memorial Health Care and Salvation Army Kroc Center Memphis’ Aim to Maintain program to avoid gaining weight during the holidays. Visit Baptist’s Better Health blog to learn more about the program.

When is it safe to be around someone who has tested positive for COVID-19? Infectious disease specialist Dr. Stephen Threlkeld answers this question on Baptist’s Better Health blog. Read the story.

Should your child play team sports during the COVID-19 pandemic? Infectious disease specialist Dr. Stephen Threlkeld discusses this question on the Baptist Better Health blog.

Visit Baptist’s Better Health blog for more health tips or information.

Mark These Dates on Your Calendar

Please visit baptistcommunities.org for a full schedule of events or for more information.

Adult Grief Groups

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Monthly Virtual Support Group 
Dec. 17, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 
Registration Required: Call 901-861-5656 in Tennessee and Mississippi; Call 870-936-7719 in Arkansas and Missouri

Teen Grief Groups

Monthly Virtual Support Group (13–17 years old)
Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Registration Required: Call 901-861-5656 in Tennessee and Mississippi; Call 870-936-7719 in Arkansas and Missouri

Children’s Grief Groups

Biweekly Virtual Support Group (8–12 years old)
Dec. 7, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Required: Call 901-861-5656 in Tennessee and Mississippi; Call 870-936-7719 in Arkansas and Missouri

University of Tennessee Health Science Center Pandemic Webinar Series

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is hosting a free “Pandemic to Possibility” webinar series that offers information on how to manage during the pandemic. Go to https://webinars.tennessee.edu/sessions/ for more information.

Health Resources

If you would like to order coronavirus (COVID-19) educational materials for your congregation or organization, please complete this order form.

Get Connected

For more information, or to make sure your faith organization is on our list, please call 901-227-3512 or email Ann Marie Wallace at annmarie.wallace@bmhcc.org.