The BLVD seeks to impact education with health fair
Two years ago, the Rev. J. Lawrence Turner greeted children at a Memphis middle school on the first day of the school year.
Again and again, the senior pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (known as The BLVD), saw buses pull up with just a few children on board. Later that day, he drove past the health department and saw lines out the door of students who were missing their first day of school, still needing immunizations and health screenings.
The influential church has a goal to impact education from day one, and they’re doing so with their “Back to School Health Fair.”
“We see this as an opportunity to galvanize our community around the next generation and make sure parents and students have what’s needed so when the school year begins, that day one, our students are beginning school,” Turner said.
The fair will offer free dental and vision screenings, immunizations and
If you go
What: Back to School Health Fair When: 10-2 p.m. July 27 Where: Mississippi BLVD Christian Church, 70 N. Bellevue Blvd. Note: Bring your child’s immunization records.
plenty of fun along the way. In the end, students are given school supplies and a backpack.
In the past, they’ve seen several thousand children participate in the fair and had backpacks left over, which they then donate to children in area communities, they said.
The Rev. Angele Johnson, pastor of congregational care and outreach, said they’ve learned that the more prepared children are on the first day, the less likely they are to struggle during the school year.
“We want to make sure they are given the required things they need to start the school year,” Turner said.
Katherine Burgess covers county government, religion and the suburbs. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-5292799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.