St. Paul Lutheran Church Craft Group gifts $500 Donation to Ozarks Healthcare Foundation’s Mobile Mammography Unit Campaign

The St. Paul Lutheran Church Craft Group in West Plains has donated $500 to the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation’s fundraising initiative for a mobile mammography unit. The funds will be used to help with costs associated with the purchase of a mobile mammography unit to help make routine screenings more accessible, especially in rural areas across Ozarks Healthcare’s region.

“We’re so grateful for the talent and generosity of St. Paul’s Church Craft Group,” Josh Reeves, Vice President of Development at Ozarks Healthcare, said. “Their donation will help us in our latest mission of making lifesaving screenings more available throughout our region.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. (some kinds of skin cancer are the most common). Finding breast cancer early reduces risk of death from the disease by 25-30% or more. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they're at high risk. Annual mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most curable stages. Many women put off getting a mammogram due to inconvenience. Studies also show women who are underinsured or uninsured are 35 percent more likely to have a mammogram offered by a mobile mammography unit versus going to an outpatient setting.

The Ozarks Healthcare Foundation is currently seeking pledges and donations for the campaign from individuals, businesses, and other organizations. Any business or organization interested in making a donation is asked to please call the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation at 417-853-5200. Individual donations can be collected online at https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/support-us/foundation/mobile-mammography-unit-campaign/.

Ozarks Healthcare is a system of care encompassing primary care and specialty clinics, along with complete rehabilitation, behavioral healthcare, and home health services. While the 114-bed acute care hospital cares for more than 5,400 admissions, the entire health system has more than 364,000 patient visits annually in South Central Missouri and Northern Arkansas. For more information about Ozarks Healthcare, visit www.OzarksHealthcare.com.

The St. Paul Lutheran Church Craft Group in West Plains has donated $500 to the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation’s fundraising initiative for a mobile mammography unit. Marcella Mickey, St. Paul Lutheran Church Craft Group member (left), is pictured with Karen Yarbrough, Ozarks Healthcare Foundation Manager (center), and Dianne Hoover, Foundation assistant (right).