Northampton County residents soon won’t have to travel far to receive better health services. “The People’s Wellness Project” will deliver important health services to them.

Brenda D. Bracey of the Gregory B. Davis Foundation, accepted the Ribbon of Hope Award from Margaret Dardess, right, president of the N.C. GlaxoSmithKline Foundation during a luncheon in Durham in March 2009. Contributed Photo | Daily Herald Advertisement

The project is sponsored by the Gregory B. Davis Foundation with one of key partners, the Town of Garysburg, which is one of 40 nonprofit organizations to receive a $25,000 grant from the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation under the Ribbon of Hope program.

The People’s Wellness Project will provide information, health screening and referrals to the citizens of Garysburg and the surrounding areas of Northampton County. One Saturday each month, health professionals and other volunteers will gather at a community location to provide health assessments, counseling, referrals and other services. The volunteers will include physicians, nurses, nutritionists, health educators, mental health professionals and laboratory/screening staff and resources. In addition, the clinic will work with youth volunteers from the local high school to expose students to health careers and encourage them to explore and seek careers in health care and science.

“This is an important step in the right direction for putting residents on the path to better health,” said Marilyn Foote-Hudson, executive director of the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation. “With a focus on education and awareness, as well as early detection for serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, local residents who are most at risk will receive convenient services when they are crucially needed.”

The Ribbon of Hope program provides one-time grants of $25,000 to nonprofits for projects furthering science, health and education in their communities. The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits will provide customized consulting services to Ribbon of Hope grant recipients.

For information about the Gregory B. Davis Foundation or the wellness project, contact Brenda D. Bracey, chief operations officer, at (252) 536-3799 or Edna Davis-Brown, president/CEO, at (240) 602-4156. The Foundation’s Web site is at www.gbdf.org.

Ribbon of Hope contact information:

For complete guidelines and related materials, visit www.mcrel.org/GSKribbonofhope/. For additional information, contact Laurie Moore at (303) 337-0990 or e-mail RibbonOfHope@mcrel.org.