By Blake Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal

Paying for healthcare is not easy for most, but Agape Community Economic Development Inc. is helping provide people with free health screenings next weekend.

“The most important thing is servicing the community because a lot of people cannot afford to go to the doctor,” said Mary Watson, who helped organize the health fair. “They can’t afford medication, they can’t afford flu shots, so the most important thing is to make sure that they are healthy.”

The nonprofit organization, which is a part of Beloved Apostolic Church of God in Selmont, is holding its annual health fair Saturday, Oct. 15.

Watson said around 25 vendors are expected to be at the health fair to provide a multitude of different services, including medical and dental.

“It’s a task trying to get them out, but none of them have turned me down so far. They have been very, very generous in coming out,” Watson said.

“They have the knowledge to share with these people, to tell them about blood pressure and what causes it and what can prevent that, diabetes and heart problems.”

Some of the vendors expected to be at the health fair are Care Ambulance, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Selma AIR.

Watson said representatives from Walgreens will also be there to give out free flu shots.

“We already have about 35 to 40 people lined up for those free flu shots,” Watson said.

Doris Polnitz, who helps with the health fair, said the event has saved lives by letting people know about underlying conditions they did not know about.

“Even if it is one person … it is really, really great,” Polnitz said.

“One year a gentlemen came out, and his blood pressure was really high, so he had to get his family member to take him to the emergency room because he didn’t know it.”

Watson said putting on the health fair each year gives her a great feeling knowing Agape has helped someone.

“It is awesome, it really is … because knowing that there is a single mom across the street with three kids … and to see her here and us witnessing all of them being taken care of, that is phenomenal, “Watson said.

“It really is. It just does my heart good.”

The health fair is from 10-2 p.m. A one-mile walk-a-thon will be held prior to it from 9 -10 a.m. in the Beloved Apostolic Church of God parking lot on Roosevelt Avenue.