On Columbus' South side, the 43206 Zip Code has the highest rate of diabetes in America. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Ohio, and obesity rates for Ohio are high. Our communities are in dire need of a health resuscitation. Right now, multiple lifestyle-change and medical efforts are working to improve health on the South side.
The Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio
Those who are poor often have the worst health and suffer the most. Most people are unaware that there is a gap in prescription drug coverage. 146,000 Franklin County adults aged 18 to 64 went without needed prescriptions in 2008, a 40% increase from 2004. This doesn't even count a significant cost gap for low income elderly folks who are on Medicare.
Yesterday I attended the Open House for the Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio at Livingston Avenue United Methodist Church. Its primary purpose is to be a “bridge” pharmacy to increase access to affordable prescription drugs for low income, uninsured and underinsured individuals who experience gaps with insurance coverage and/or challenges in accessing medications through other available programs.
Access Health and the United Methodist Church, The Livingston Ave. UMC and Community Development for All People (CDC) partnered to make this happen, with funding from a variety of sources including Rosati Windows, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Columbus Foundation and many more. Ongoing donations and volunteers are needed to make this a success.
More Healthy Community Ventures
In addition to the Charitable Pharmacy, these other health ventures were already underway: The Couch Potato Workout
You might be wondering what a "Couch Potato Workout" is and why Governor Strickland is offering it. Oops! Wrong Governor!
This "Governor" is Gregg Peerson, a well-known talented drummer who plays with The All People Band. Shortly after Gregg started playing with our band, he came to me and said he had a workout that anyone with any disability could do. Gregg was a fitness instructor at the YWCA for many years. During Free Store hours on Wednesday afternoon, he has volunteered his time to lead his "Couch Potato Workout" free for those waiting to shop. I'm sure we're all well aware that medical care and prescription coverage are only half the battle. Lifestyle changes are critical to combat obesity, diabetes and heart disease. I've done Gregg's workout a few times and it is fun and easy. It literally can be done sitting down, but strengthens arms, legs and core muscles.Gregg is now trying to expand this ministry by making a video of his workout. He wants to make this available to individuals but also to companies, churches and non-profits who are interested in improving fitness. The video will cost about $800 to make. He is taking pre-orders for $20 per video to raise the necessary funds to make the video. There is a money back guarantee on the video as well so if you order it and don't like it, he'll give you your money back. I'm going to pitch in $40.00. If you are interested in helping Gregg out with this venture, please email me at eghow@columbus.rr.com. No cash outlay is required right now. He'll wait until he has enough pre-orders to fund the video. I can vouch for Gregg and I'm interested in expanding this great ministry.I'm making commitment to live healthier and help my neighbors, too and invite you to take part as well.
Blood Money
Dorothy (not her real name) is an attractive African-American woman who has been attending the United Methodist Church for All People for awhile now. She is petite and always dresses impeccably. She has volunteered for many things and I was especially grateful that she helped me decorate and set up for a recent event. She is sweet and seems very intelligent and a little vulnerable.
I was absolutely shocked to learn that she is homeless and is currently living in a shelter. Our stereotypes are very disabling because they make us think that homelessness is only a problem for certain “types” of people – those with addictions, mental illness and so forth. Our image is of dirty, smelly people who have no interest in taking care of themselves. It is easy to classify these folks as “chronic” homeless folks who don’t need or want help, or who are impossible to really help. Dorothy is one of many people who run quite counter to this stereotype. She is meticulous about her appearance and clearly would like to not be homeless.
I do not know the details of Dorothy’s situation but I was even more stunned when Pastor John mentioned almost in passing that she sells plasma (meaning, really, that she sells her blood) in order to try to get by, but she’s, of course, limited in how often she can do this. This isn’t the first time I’ve known that people who are marginalized often sell their blood, but for some reason more than ever I found this so totally unconscionable that it has stayed with me. Each time I see Dorothy I remember this comment and I’m outraged.
Ever see the bumper sticker “If you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention.”? Well, we should all be paying more attention. Here in the world’s richest country, people across our nation will sell their blood tomorrow in order to buy the food they need, pay for bus tickets, put gas in their car, pay for prescriptions, pay the rent or the electric bill, and, yes, in case you are wondering, sometimes to pay for liquor. Probably they don’t make enough selling their blood to buy illegal drugs, but maybe that too.
Many of them are actually employed but don’t make enough to get by. Many are mentally ill. Many are veterans. Many are parents.
A member of our congregation now has over 80 days of sobriety. He has a family and has had an alcohol problem for many years. He is going through some bad physical withdrawal and a $60 shot would help him through the process, but he can’t afford it so he struggles through without it, risking his recovery.
Someone else has a knee that troubles him so much you can see he’s in constant pain. He won’t take care of it – it will cost too much money and he can’t afford it.
A young woman I know, a single parent with two children, recently lost her minimum wage job because she was out sick too often with chronic kidney infections that had her hospitalized. She’s unemployed again and in danger of losing her kids, because she can’t make a steady income.
The daughter of another member has a job but she has to have a car to get there. There is no bus service. She doesn’t make enough for car payments and gas and insurance. So she risks her license and car by driving without insurance.
Have some of these people made their own bed? You betcha. Are they getting what they “deserve”? Oh, in many cases, probably yes.
I guess the question is whether we believe in second chances, forgiveness and compassion. I guess the question I ask myself is “Do I get what I deserve?” or have I had, in my life, many second chances, forgiveness from others around me, and lucky breaks – starting with the circumstances of my birth, my parents, my race and my class.
I'm blessed and hope you are as well.
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