Health Fairs
In response to growing health problems facing families they serve, pastors of local congregations have identified church-based health fairs as an important expression of ministry in their neighborhoods. Grace Urban Ministries has come alongside such congregations to provide coordination, logistical support, and the leveraging of institutional resources to help realize their health ministry goals.
UCSF Health Hut
Mission Street Health Fair
The Mission Street Health Fair, in the Excelsior District near Daly City, reaches a multi-ethnic neighborhood, with outreach carried out in Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog and English. SF Christian Center, an African-American Pentacostal Church, hosts the fair in partnership with Cumberland Presbyterian Church Daly City, Grace Fellowship Community Church, Redeemer Community Church, and other congregations. California Pacific Medical Center, the SF Hospital Council, SF General Hospital, and the UC Berkeley School of Optometry, are among its many critical community partners.
See the Photos
Download the Poster [PDF]
Diabetes Testing
Mission Church Health Fair
The Mission Church Health Fair, in San Francisco’s Mission District, was initiated by Iglesia Presbiteriana de la Mision and worked in partnership with Grace Fellowship Community Church, and other congregations, to address the high incidence of diabetes among the Latino immigrant community and, in particular, the Mayan-speaking community with roots in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Hundreds of visitors underwent basic screening, and then, based on need, met with a physician and diabetes educators.
Diabetes Health Fair
Health Fair Nurses
Inspired by the Mission Street Health Fair, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Daly City organized a Diabetes Health Fair to serve the families of a nearby elementary school community, and neighboring residents. In addition to glucose screening and diabetes education, visitors received flu-shots (from California Pacific Medical Center), dental screening, and tips on urban gardening. GUM provided some logistical support and resources.
See the PhotoDownload the Poster [PDF]
From our latest newsletter…
"
Last Spring’s Health Day at Willie Brown College Preparatory Academy was our last. The school’s closure at the end of the 2010-2011 academic year marked the end of our church’s first exploration into neighborhood ministry. As I reflected on our six-year partnership with the Wellness Center at Willie Brown, I began to see how it had formed our view of partnership."