This year marked Restoring the Breach's fifth annual Community Health Fair, an event offering attendees free health screenings, music, food, and giveaway opportunities. Parents could even drop their kids off to do arts and crafts. While the kids were having fun, adults visited some healthcare and insurance vendors. Vendors such as Pineland, Acceptance Insurance, and Amerigroup were in attendance, all proud sponsors of the event.
For this event, Restoring the Breach also partnered with the Georgia Moms Project, an organization dedicated to fighting the maternal mortality rate in Georgia.
"I don't know how well known it is, but mothers who are of low income, as well as lower socioeconomic status, as well as minorities, are dying more in childbirth than other women," said LaShai Campbell, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Restoring the Breach. "So wanting to help them and encourage them to get the best health care options available if that is talking to their local OBGYN, if that is talking to doulas or lactation consultants -- so wanting to uplift them and encourage them in their journey."
While the goal of the event was to provide free information and care, the organizers and vendors in attendance also had an eye toward establishing longterm healthy behaviors in a mangeable and affordable way.
Acceptance Insurance
One vendor at the event was Acceptance Insurance. Acceptance Insurance is a national insurance company that handles various insurance plans such as life, pet, business, auto, commercial, and more.
"We enjoy supporting our local communities, our local outreach program," said Lenford Joshua, managing agent of Acceptance Insurance. "To me personally, health is one of the most important things because not a lot of people can afford it. So anytime there's health-based events, we try to sponsor them, and try to give them money to afford things like the health bus and different vendors and sponsors. So people who need it who are underprivileged can have some sort of healthcare."
According to Joshua, due to the impact of Hurricane Ian, rates with Acceptance Insurance and many other insurance companies have gone up recently. However, Acceptance is currently working with multiple companies to help provide the lowest and most affordable prices available.
Anyone who may be interested in any insurance from Acceptance can reach out to Joshua through his office contact number at 912-748-7771. Alternatively, they can contact the Statesboro Office at 912-489-4400.
East Georgia Healthcare Center
Arriving in their own mobile unit, the East Georgia Healthcare Center offered free health screenings to anyone who attended. Inside the unit was a medical exam room where patients could walk in and get a basic check-up.
The East Georgia Healthcare Center is a non-profit, community-owned health center that provides many services. Some include pediatrics, dental care, health insurance enrollment, and more. Making sure these services remain affordable is an essential mission for East Georgia to pursue.
"People are kind of hesitant to see a provider because they might not be able to afford it or think they can make it work," said billing representative Michelle Lyons. "We have a scale fee that is based on how many people are in your household to determine your pay."
Appointments can be made using the EGHC website.
About Restoring the Breach
Giving back to the community in this way can greatly impact someone's life. This concept is no stranger to the Restoring the Breach organization, especially Campbell.
Restoring the Breach is a non-profit, local 501c3 with a mission to increase the quality of life for all communities in Statesboro. The organization hosts many events beyond the health fair, such as "ME First Tutoring," a community calling drive, Thanksgiving giveaways for homeless families, and even devotional services at homeless shelters in Statesboro.
According to Campbell, Restoring the Breach also plans to do its first-ever Christmas giveaway this year, partnering with a few organizations. And the organization is also hoping to get more sponsorships and additional funding.
You can make a donation to support RTB's mission here.
