Triumph Ministries to hold Community Health Fair in Sumter on Saturday

One church seeks to give back to its community through free health screenings and vaccinations.

Triumph Ministries urges Sumter residents to be more health conscious by attending its community health event on Saturday.

Senior Pastor Stephanie Mathis said the idea for a Community Health Fair "bursted through one of her spiritual daughters" during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Discussions about mental and physical health previously hosted over Zoom for family, friends and church members expanded across various counties and states. Nurse practitioners, a doctor from Florence and health experts from surrounding counties joined these calls and spoke on the importance of vaccinations, dealing with mental health issues and numerous other topics for viewers inside and outside of South Carolina, Mathis said.

"I believe that not just only the county of Sumter but around the globe that our health conscious is important. I believe now it is so imperative that we are educated on our health because so much has occurred within this pandemic," Mathis said. "Many people think they don't have to go to the doctor, but it is essential that we have our health awareness 'tune up.' Not only to be fully aware of what is going on in the pandemic but what's going on inside of our bodies."

Mathis said people often wait until "it's too late" to receive health checks. She encouraged residents to visit the doctor for regular screenings, checkups and even talks about their mental health.

"These issues are more prevalent now," she said. "The event is free; all they have to do is show up. We want to make sure we're giving back to the community as a whole. Maybe they could find out just by coming to a community health fair that they do have high blood pressure."

The ministry will host its Community Health Fair on March 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 99 Oswego Highway. Educational information about health and wellness, free COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters and testing, and blood pressure screenings will be available. Nutritional and behavioral health information will also be available.

Gift cards, prizes and goody bags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Several local vendors will also be present.