WEST PALM BEACH — The American Heart Association brings heart health resources to community members in many ways to meet people where they are. That includes sharing resources at schools, offices and even churches.

Through the Association’s Go Red Sundays program sponsored by Florida Power & Light Company, the American Heart Association offices in Palm Beach County, Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Pensacola worked with five area churches in 2023 to host heart health events, and three of those churches have launched sustainable health changes. These projects have so far reached an estimated 3,650 people.

“The opportunity to connect our local communities with health resources in a way that engages and brings them together is vital,” says Kate Cotner, director of community engagement for Florida Power & Light Company. “We are proud to be part of these changes that are helping people live longer, healthier lives.”

These changes have included providing blood pressure training and equipment so congregants can get their blood pressure checked for free through their church and get connected to medical assistance if the pressure is high, implementing nutritional guidelines and providing cold storage for churches with on-site food pantries, and putting cardiac emergency response plans in place so community members know what to do in case of a medical emergency.

“One of the focuses of our work is to ‘meet people where they are,’” says Kayla Fox, executive director of the American Heart Association Palm Beach County. “For example, we estimate that 1 in 3 Palm Beach County residents has high blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. If we can make checking your blood pressure more accessible by having stations at churches, we can help people recognize high blood pressure and go see a doctor early, before they ever have to experience a heart or stroke-related event.”

The Go Red Sundays program was launched in 2021. To learn more, contact Sheree.Wolliston@Heart.org.