A promise made to God led to a Promise to Help.

Dr. Sandra Ford and her Husband Henry found themselves inspired to find a way to help out after reading a Birmingham News special report entitled The Black Belt: Alabama’s Third World.

Reading the article rekindled a fire that had motivated Dr. Ford to become a physician in the first place and reminded her of the promise she made to help once she finished her training.

“She told God that if He would see fit for her to become a physician, she would give back into the community,” said Marcia Pugh, the local liaison for A Promise to Help.

Ford will bring her team, which will include other doctors and mobile screening units, and supplies to Linden Saturday in an effort to provide medical services and aid to those who need them.

Pugh noted that Ford, who grew up and attended school in rural Alabama, experienced first hand the inequities of the healthcare systems in the Black Belt region and Ford’s previous efforts to help by treating patients in rural health clinics in Selma and Sipsey did not completely satisfy her desire to help.

“She wants to bring Help to all over the Black Belt,” Pugh said, noting this would be Ford’s second trip to Marengo County.

The event will be held Jan. 7 at George P. Austin Junior High School from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

There will be food and entertainment along with clothes and medical exams for those in need.

“Last year they gave away wheelchairs and walkers to the people who needed them but couldn’t afford them,” Pugh said, “and medical companies have donated medicine as well.”

Pugh said any items left over would be donated to a local agency which would be charged with giving them away to those in need once the mobile units have left Linden.