CHICAGO – Seven churches partnered to bring free health services to Chicago’s South and West Side ahead of the new school year.
It’s an effort by the pastors’ wives, known as first ladies, to address unique health needs in underserved communities.
On Sunday, WGN caught up with EJ Davis, first lady of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in the city’s Roseland neighborhood.
“We were in a hiatus period during the pandemic, but now we’re starting back up again so we’re truly excited about it,” Davis said.
Davis, in collaboration with First Lady Health, is offering her congregation a number of health screenings and immunizations.
“First Ladies Health Initiative is comprised of first ladies in Chicago, Atlanta, Georgia, and California and work really hard to bring these opportunities,” said Marquise Alston-Allison, co-executive director of First Ladies Health initiative.
“We have seven churches participating this year in the South Side and the West Side of Chicago, and each location is going to offer different types of screenings and it’s going to cater to their particular congregation and the need in the community,” added Co-Executive Director Taylor Alston-Cleveland.
Davis’ church specifically is focusing on back to school needs like immunizations and backpacks, while also offering traditional screenings like glucose and blood pressure, along with Alzheimer’s and AIDS sceenings.
“In the Roseland community, there’s a lot of people here who do not actually have insurance, so this is a wonderful way for them to be able to get those immunizations the children need before they go back to school without having to worry about paying for them, because everything is free,” Davis said.
The organization welcomes interest from churches and first ladies who are interested in providing similar services in their area.
Click here for more information.