| Norma Adams-Wade: Health staff deserves kudos for aiding poor 12/20/2000 By Caring for patients in a hospital is demanding work in itself, so the Baylor Health Care System nurses, doctors and administrators who volunteer for the nonprofit Central Dallas Ministries' health-care project deserve kudos.
After working their regular jobs, about 300 health-care workers volunteer at night and on weekends for the Church Health Ministries.
Volunteers to the rescue
This year, they gave 2,500 volunteer hours of support to the health ministries, project officials said. The support allows the ministries to provide health care annually to about 7,500 poor people who do not have regular care.
Many of those people are homeless and suffer from illnesses – such as pneumonia and the flu – that result from living on the street, ministries officials said.
Others who benefit are people who work but cannot afford health insurance or their jobs don't offer it, officials said.
Church Health Ministries
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development named the Church Health Ministries project one of the country's 100 best programs in 2000.
Baylor recently donated $50,000 to help Central Dallas Ministries purchase prescription medicines and expand nursing services. The money will enable the ministries to extend its day office hours and employ full-time staff to help the volunteers who work after hours, officials said.
Central Dallas Ministries also provides food, clothing, counseling, education and job training programs for poor people. To inquire, call 214-823-8710.
About town
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas is seeking volunteers to participate in a research project testing the effect of exercise on depression. The project is in conjunction with the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research.
Researchers are seeking to prove that regular exercise will help decrease depression. Men and women eligible as volunteers should range from 20 to 45, have no major health problems and have mild or moderate depression. They must be able to exercise three to five times a week at the Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road near LBJ Freeway. To inquire, call 972-341-3235.
'Black Nativity' production
•The Jubilee Theatre's performance of Black Nativity, by noted writer Langston Hughes, will run through Jan. 7.
Performances are at 8:15 p.m. on weekends. The theater is in Sundance Square at 506 E. Main Street in Fort Worth.
The play is the Christmas story presented through gospel and folk spirituals, narrative, pantomime and dialogue. Tickets range from $14 to $20. To inquire, call 817-338-4411.
•Entries in the annual Holiday Decorations Contest sponsored by Clean South Dallas/Fair Park will be judged from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Residences, businesses, organizations and churches are participating. Winners in each of those categories will receive awards at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Clean South Dallas Empowerment Center, 2809 Birmingham Ave. To inquire, call 214-421-1662.
Norma Adams-Wade can be reached at ; P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265 or by fax at 214-977-8319.
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