Omaha’s “One Stop Cancer Shop” – A Huge Success
by Rev. Karen Saunders (UUMS 2012)
Rev. Karen Saunders, Senior Minister, and members of her congregation at Christ-Love Unity Church in Omaha, Nebraska, were among dozens of volunteers who participated in two, free “One Stop Cancer Shop” screenings for the Omaha community. The screenings were held in partnership with Christ-Love Unity Church, North Omaha churches, the University of Nebraska Nursing School, Fred and Pamela Buffett Breast Cancer Center, and several other organizations. The purpose of these events was to address the morbidity rate due to cancer in the African American population and communities of color which ranks higher than any other ethnic population in the Omaha area. Rev. Karen served on the Committee that spent the past year preparing for these
important opportunities to provide much-needed screening for breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancer. The Committee’s efforts included educating, scheduling appointments, and providing transportation for mammograms and lung scans at a local church on Saturday, September 28. They also provided guidance for those without medical insurance and transportation to the University Medical Center for scans and readings. Individuals whose results were positive received counseling on the next steps to take. Rev. Karen and other clergy were available for prayer support. Since this was the first event of its kind, the committee set parameters that included the number of mammograms and lung screenings they expected to administer. Those numbers were
exceeded owing to the success of the event. The second “One Stop Cancer Shop, scheduled for Saturday, October 26, at the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, is also predicted to exceed expectations. The committee is already planning to hold screenings in Omaha and other locations across the state of Nebraska in 2025. Anyone interested should contact Rev. Karen at re**************@uu**.org, or 402-677-4670.
