Welcome to the April issue of The Wellness Corner - the e-newsletter for our community of advocates and enthusiasts - from Big Bend Cares and Care Point Health & Wellness Center.
In this issue, we give an update and details on Artopia progress; look ahead to April and May's awareness days; recognize some amazing volunteers; celebrate World Health Day; and share other ways you can support our mission.
Every day, Big Bend Cares and Care Point continue to provide essential assistance and quality health care to those we serve in the Tallahassee and Big Bend area (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties). Our services include free HIV and STD testing, primary health care, dental care, lab work, sexual health education, courtesy transportation services, home-delivered meals, co-pay assistance for medications, and case management services.
These services wouldn't be possible without your generous donations, support, and contributions. To you reading this newsletter- thank you for helping us provide health care and much more to those in need - we appreciate you!
Thank you for reading!
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Shameria Young
Board President
Big Bend Cares
Care Point Health & Wellness Center
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Artopia, Tallahassee's largest charity art auction, is now accepting art donations, and as submissions have already started coming in, we encourage you and anyone you know to participate! We also hope that you'll join us on Saturday, June 22nd, for a delicious dinner, expansive silent auction, and rousing Live Auction at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
Please consider donating, as all proceeds from Artopia remain in the Big Bend Area and provide food, transportation, housing, and health care to those we serve – at no cost to them.
Donation Details:
- We love original works, but you don't have to have made the piece to donate
- We accept all mediums
- Donors will receive a free General Admission ticket ($25 value) for each piece donated, up to three
- Original works will be juried for cash prizes
- Donors can receive a tax benefit for their donation
- Deadline to donate is Wednesday, June 12th
Click the buttons below to either donate art or buy tickets.
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Congratulations to the Artopia 2024 Cover Artist Anna Edson McBride for her selected piece "Knowledge" which will be included in the Live Auction for you to bid on at the event! | |
See some of the new original art donations! | |
April 10 is National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This awareness day was launched to engage young people on the topic of HIV and AIDS. According to the CDC, people ages 13 to 34 accounted for more than half of new U.S. HIV diagnoses in 2021. |
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April 18 is National Transgender HIV Testing Day. HIV Disproportionately affects the transgender community. NTHTD recognizes the importance of routine testing and a continued focus on HIV prevention and treatment among people who are transgender, gender-nonconforming, and nonbinary. |
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May 18 is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. Led by the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, HVAD showcases the progress made in the search for a safe and effective HIV vaccine. It also marks an opportunity to educate communities about the importance of vaccine research. |
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May 19 is National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This awareness day presents an opportunity to highlight how HIV uniquely affects Asians and Pacific Islanders. The goal is to promote HIV testing and treatment and encourage conversation about HIV in these communities. |
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Volunteers of the Month for January and February | |
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We are proud to congratulate Kayla Starling on being Volunteer of the Month for January! Joining us through the Holiday Angels rush, Kayla has been a consistent and caring voice we're proud to have represent the Big Bend Cares mission. Thank you! |
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February Volunteer of the Month Eriyon Daniel has been a great asset to the work Big Bend Cares has been doing this season. We hope to recognize the commitment and passion Eriyon brings to the table, making our community a better place in the process. Thank you! |
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World Health Day - April 7 | |
Around the world, the right to health of millions is increasingly coming under threat. Diseases and disasters loom large as causes of death and disability. Conflicts are devastating lives, causing death, pain, hunger and psychological distress.
The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a human right in their constitution. Yet countries are not passing and putting into practice laws to ensure their populations are entitled to access health services. This underpins the fact that at least 4.5 billion people — more than half of the world’s population — were not fully covered by essential health services in 2021.
To address these types of challenges, the theme for World Health Day 2024 is 'My health, my right’.
This year, as always, Big Bend Cares is committed to maintaining access to life-saving resources for those in our community living with HIV, and Care Point Health & Wellness Center is committed to our mission of advancing community wellness for all, providing comprehensive care to patients regardless of ability to pay.
Thank you for helping forward that mission, by engaging in our programs, joining our events, and making contributions in so many ways so we can keep removing barriers to access for those in need.
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Givers Every Month (GEM) Club | |
Last year, over 3,730 no cost food bags were given to our clients in Tallahassee and the Big Bend facing food insecurity because of our GEM Club members.
And GEM Club members make it possible for us to provide FREE comprehensive health care to our uninsured patients, with no sliding fee scale.
What is a GEM Club member?
It’s you and me - neighbors helping neighbors. GEM (Givers Every Month) Club members donate monthly and 100% of their gifts go towards food and health care for our neighbors in need. Want to become a GEM Club member and help us serve others? Click the button below:
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Take a Tour of Care Point Today! | |
Ever wonder what happens beyond the closed doors of Care Point?
Sign up for a guided tour today and witness a behind-the-scenes view of “the 27,000 square feet of awesomeness!” including the 10 patient exam rooms, lab, x-ray facility, and dental wing.
For details and to reserve a space on the next tour, please email Takila Brooks here.
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We hope you enjoyed the April 2024 issue of The Wellness Corner. If you have questions or want more information about any of the topics covered, please email Serene Smallwood here or call (850) 656-2437 extension 224. Thank you. |
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Big Bend Cares, Inc. / Care Point Health & Wellness Center is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), federal tax-exempt organization. All donations are deemed tax-deductible.
FEIN: 59-2816580
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