Bladen Blessed hosts ‘Lunch and Learn’

ELIZABETHTOWN – There is a mighty work to do in Bladen County and as there are more and more elderly surviving older age, the workers are few. That being said, Bladen Blessed is a brand-new grassroots organization that wholeheartedly agrees that there is much work to do and there’s a place for you to fit into the solution to some of the problems.

“Bladen Blessed started as a program with Grace United Methodist Church,” Sharon Natale, Bladen Blessed organizer said.

A small idea that started through a program through the Methodist Church has begun a quest to be a great vision and outreach for Bladen County.

“The Rural Center, which is not affiliated with the United Methodist Church, close to Raleigh granted us a grant,” Pastor Mark Gustafson, of Grace United Methodist Church said. “It was for $10K through their Connect program in which we spent time and there was a group working on how we could best connect to the community.”

This was a nine-month program, according to Natale and when it was finished, the group had written a grant.

“It’s a learning program,” Natale said. “Where they talk about what you think is good for your community and what your community needs. But looking at it not from a charity work standpoint. More of how do we meet the needs without what they call a ‘toxic charity.’”

In the program, Natale and her group interviewed people in the community to see what they thought was needed. They also looked at the local church’s strengths.

“One of the things that we got the grant for was called ‘Bladen Blessed,’ because we wanted to be more than just one church,” Natale said. “Grace United Methodist Church was the church that got the grant, but the whole concept was to have a united church community involved in the program.”

The group is trying to involve people from other churches within the community with the idea that it’s not just going to be a one-church effort, but more of a community partnership, according to Natlale.

“In addition to the churches, we are reaching out to the health department, and to other service groups and agencies within the community,” Gustafson said.

The group has contacted local senior center and has also reached out to the agriculture extension office because we may use one of their meeting rooms for the gatherings including the “Lunch and Learn” meetings that Bladen Blessed wants to host.

As for the grant, Natale said that the grant wanted for focus on “at-risk” people in the community.

“What we mean by that is seeking out the people in our community who are infirmed, elderly and shut-in,” Natale said. “We hope to be able to provide them with education and access to health care services as well as addressing some of those needs with care teams.”

The group took into account the enormity of the vision when they looked at the size of the county and how sparsely populated it was.

“There’s so many people that are unable to move around or get out of their house to get help,” Natale said. “The idea is that we can through this community unified group create these care teams that will be aware of people and what their needs are. It may be just a visit. It may be calling the care team pick up their groceries for them or possibly to go and pick up medicines at the pharmacy.”

Gustafson mentioned that meeting the needs could go all the way into medical supplies or possibly even locating a hospital bed. The group has been developing a medical lending library for things that patients may need, but cannot afford, such as walkers and crutches.

“If they need other supplies, like under-pads for beds or pullups for incontinency, we are hoping to get those for them,” she said. “The population according to the U.S. census is 29,484 people. We do hope that Bladen-Blessed can offer support and care to not only the folks over 65 but also the people who are in other high-risk groups.”

Statistics for Bladen County and the need that is facing the community:

• · People in poverty 18.5%
• · Over 65 years if age 24%
• · People with disabilities under 65 9.4%
• · People under 65 without health insurance 14.5%

“It’s actually my opinion that this is actually a work in progress,” Susie Prevette, Bladen-Blessed supporter said. “It’s just getting off the ground. There are three major areas that this group wants to address. One of these things are the quarterly ‘Lunch and Learns’ at the different churches to engage the churches into getting the word out. Two is the pantry of used medical equipment. And then there’s that piece in the middle where we have at least two retired nurses in this group. In the past, we had someone we called a parish nurse where the hospital paid for her benefits and the churches paid for her salary. She would actually cut toe nails and take blood pressure, but the main thing is she would go and ‘see’ people and connect them to the community.”

The group is still setting boundaries and setting up a network that will cause those without a voice in the community to be able to speak. It is a group that is set on drawing community together with the idea that many hands make light work, and it truly does take a community to raise a family.

The very first Lunch and Learn hosted by Bladen Blessed will be held at Elizabeth Presbyterian Church Activity Center April 11, at 11:30 a.m. A lunch will be provided.

The topic that really needs to be heard by everyone, but especially those who are vulnerable and targeted by scammers, will be brought by speaker Sgt. Gary Turlington of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office. The choice of topic will be: “Scams and elder abuse.”

If you plan to attend the Lunch and Learn or perhaps want to get on board this new and powerful ministry in the community, please phone 910-874-5110. There is work to do… and there’s a place for you.

Mark DeLap is a journalist, photographer and the editor and general manager of the Bladen Journal. To email him, send a message to: mdelap@bladenjournal.com