Omar Temple #21, Oasis of Savannah, Desert of Georgia
“Midnight Riders”
Sickle Cell Health Fair and Charity Banquet

Oasis of Savannah- .  On Saturday May 14, 2005 a Sickle Cell Awareness Initiative was launched in Bulloch County.  Omar Temple No. 21 Shriners from the Oasis of Savannah, GA visited the Statesboro Georgia area to help promote Sickle Cell Disease awareness and education within the Bulloch County Community and surrounding areas.  Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic disease that affects approximately 70,000 people in the U.S. and 1 out of 12 African Americans will be born with this genetic disease.  The Illustrious Potentate of Omar Temple No. 21, James R. Battey and the Imperial Deputy of the Oasis, Fletcher Scott Jr. and Nobles of Omar Temple traveled to Statesboro for the first time to promote one of the Prince Hall Shriners major charity campaigns of Sickle Cell Disease education and research.  The Nobles of Omar Temple No. 21 were greeted with open arms by the Bulloch County community and hope to make the Sickle Cell Initiative an Annual event in the area.

Brochures and pamphlets concerning sickle cell disease and research were distributed to the many patrons of the Statesboro Mall.  The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia also provided videos on education about sickle cell disease.  Mr. Harold Dobbs who is the Outreach Coordinator of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia provided free sickle cell screening and testing for local citizens.  The test that was provided in the Mall, which was at no cost to Bulloch County citizens, normally cost over two hundred dollars per test.  Mr. Dobbs was able to test close to one hundred people in the Statesboro Mall for sickle cell disease or traits.  In today’s society state laws makes Sickle Cell testing mandatory in all newborns.

 Omar Temple No. 21 Shriners also collected donations for sickle cell disease research from citizens at local businesses such as the Statesboro Mall, Bi-Lo grocery store, and K-Mart Stores of Statesboro, which was also a sponsor of the sickle Cell Initiative.  Mrs. Rose Krejca the manager of the K-mart store in Statesboro allowed the Nobles of Omar Temple to distribute literature about sickle cell disease and testing to patrons of the store.  A little over 1500 dollars was collected at the Statesboro Mall for disease research and sickle cell patient’s families.

 Later that evening a Sickle Cell Charity Banquet was held at Georgia Southern University in the Performing Arts Center in the Nesmith-Lane Building.  Noble Tyrone Hendry of Statesboro was the chairman of the Sickle Cell Initiative and Master of Ceremony at the Charity Banquet.  Noble Hendry stated that the Sickle Cell Initiative was just a dream that come into existence through the hard work of people in the Bulloch County area.  Noble Hendry thanked all guest and patrons for their support and sponsorship of the Sickle Cell campaign that was launched in Bulloch County.  Guests at the head table at the Charity Banquet included: Councilman William Britt City of Statesboro, Nancy Martin American Red Cross Director, John Brown Bulloch County Democratic Party Chairman, Major John Holloway of the Statesboro Police Department, Rikki Martin of Statesboro Mall, Leanne Robinson of Ogeechee Technical College, and Billy Allen of Snella Enterprises.  The heads of each sponsoring Fraternal and Sorority organization were also present at the Charity Banquet.