Welcome to the December 2022 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.

This issue will recap this year's Client Thanksgiving Dinner; give some important updates for the Holiday Angels program; offer an important Care Point service; detail an upcoming World AIDS Day event; highlight some special volunteers; and share info on Gem Club and Care Point tours.

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!

Client Thanksgiving Dinner

This year, we were so fortunate to be able to host our Client Thanksgiving Dinner in-person with the generous help of Good Samaritan United Methodist Church.

A huge thanks to Director of Client Services, Melissa Walton, for coordinating everything between Good Samaritan and Big Bend Cares for another year, a cherished tradition for us.

The food was prepared with love, and there were generous portions for all of the clients to enjoy. We also want to recognize the help of the staff and Board Members who made it out to serve and greet.

And to top the evening off, we were able to raffle off some turkey boxes containing complete Thanksgiving meals to feed a whole family! These boxes of a whole frozen turkey and all the fixings were contributed by the 8th Annual Larry Campbell Turkey Drive.

Holiday Angels

Development is happy to report that Holiday Angels is progressing well so far, with an outpouring of support from our community. 351 children is another record year for Big Bend Cares, but it's great a majority of them have been picked up by Angels!

With 76 children still in need of sponsors, we really do appreciate your help in getting the word out. Word of mouth works wonders for programs like these!

There's still time if you would like to participate as well, as our gift deadline is December 12th. If you're interested in supporting, you can sponsor a family or donate directly by clicking below:

Share this flyer with friends or on social media to help spread the word!

Care Point Health Update:

National Influenza Vaccination Week

This year, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes National Influenza Vaccination week from December 5-9 to highlight the importance of flu vaccinations.

While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses typically circulate during the fall and winter during what’s known as the flu season. Since the start of the COVID pandemic, the timing and duration of flu activity has been less predictable.

Care Point will be offering flu shots to everyone interested, so come by the clinic if you would like to receive one, scheduling preferred but not required. To make an appointment you can call 850-354-8765 or click the button below. This is open to the public and free, so spread the word!

World AIDS Day

Know your status!

Join Big Bend Cares and our partnering organizations on December 9th for some health and education opportunities to honor World AIDS Day. We will be out from 12pm-2pm at Haffye Hays Park, located at 1376 SW Grand St, Greenville, FL 32331, with testing and giveaways! And a huge thanks to Walmart for donating to help promote a healthier community.

All members of the public are encouraged to come and get tested, which includes you! Thank you for helping spread awareness to the community, supporting the BBC mission. For more info, please email Tracy Gallon.

Volunteer of the Month for September, October, and November

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? Please click here.

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.

We hope you enjoyed the December 2022 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.

(850) 656-2437

(850) 354-8765

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