T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK
Sharlene Yocum, secretary at the Salvation Army, invites women to the first meeting Thursday of a new group focusing on women’s health issues through the Belmont County Health Department. The Salvation Army is hosting the first meetings.
BELLAIRE — The first meeting of a new group formed to support and promote women’s health is set for Thursday at the Salvation Army.
Linda Mehl, director of nursing at the Belmont County Health Department, started the group using a Maternal Child Health grant from the Ohio Department of Health to assist women ages 18-44 who lack health care and other resources to keep healthy during pregnancy.
“My goal with the grant is to improve the health of women of childbearing age, either before they get pregnant or between pregnancy. That would help improve the birth of the baby, the health of the baby when they’re born, and also the health of the mom,” she said.
She said the scope has grown with the help of the Bellaire Salvation Army and its Maj. Louis Patrick, who asked her to promote resources such as the Salvation Army’s “She-Shed,” which is used to store health and hygiene products for women in need of them.
“Originally, I was just going to start it for the women that lived there, at the Salvation Army, but (Patrick) wants to open it up to the community, so they can also learn more about the She-Shed and access to the medical products that program entails,” Mehl said.
The first meeting is set for 11 a.m. to noon Thursday. The Salvation Army, located at 315 37th St., Bellaire, will provide pizza for attendees.
“We’ve only set the first month so far. It’s going to be a monthly thing. We haven’t set a date past Jan. 26. It’s going to be a real informal group. It’s going to be kind of a different topic every month. So for January, it’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. The talk will kind of center on that and just some resources that are available to women who maybe don’t have insurance, or don’t have really good insurance, when they should be screened and that type of thing,” Mehl said.
“Major Patrick wanted me to go into a little more information, like some of our services that we have here.”
Mehl said there will be a different topic every month, and attendees will be able to share information and ask questions.
February is American Heart Month, so the club’s meeting then likely will focus on blood pressure and other risks to monitor. For future meetings, Mehl hopes to have the participants provide some direction.
“I want to get some feedback from the women who attend on what they’re interested in,” she said. “I don’t have all the answers. It’s going to evolve as it goes on. I just think we’re just going to see how it goes.”
“I believe there’s going to be a lot of people in need that are going to come to this She-Shed and get items they could use on a daily basis,” Sharlene Yocum, secretary at the Salvation Army, said. “A lot of the females are coming here looking for the feminine products, things that are getting expensive.”
“If we can help one person, it really means we’ve accomplished something,” volunteer Bunnie Blon said.
They said women of all ages make use of the shed. Donations are welcome.
The health department also offers a maternal self-care support group virtually through (Cedar Ridge SP) at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month.
For more information or to call ahead, call Mehl at the health department, 740-695-1202, ext. 140. Women are asked to register but may do so when they attend the day of the meeting.
