Jacksonville Memorial Hospital Offers Free Drive-Thru Colorectal Cancer Screening Kits

What began with a driver pulling into the hospital circle drive on West Walnut Street on Tuesday ended with a free test kit, a postage-paid return envelope, and zero dollars spent. Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, in partnership with the Mia Ware Foundation, distributed free fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits to Morgan County residents across two drive-thru sessions this week: Tuesday, March 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, March 25, from 9 to 11 a.m., both at the circle drive at 1600 W. Walnut St.

No appointment was required. Drivers pulled into the circle, answered a few brief questions from hospital staff, and left with the kit in hand. Jacksonville Memorial spokesperson Claire Peak addressed the single hesitation that stops most people before they even start: there is no fasting and no special preparation involved with FIT kits, setting them apart from colonoscopy procedures that can deter adults from getting screened at all. "Early detection of colorectal cancer is key to a successful fight against and treatment for the disease," Peak said.

The test itself takes only minutes at home. Participants use the included materials to collect a small stool sample, seal it in the provided container, and return it by mail in the postage-paid envelope supplied in the kit. The FIT kit screens for traces of blood in the stool, which can indicate polyps or cancer before any symptoms appear. Completed kits should be mailed back within 10 days of pickup, with results returned by mail within three to four weeks.

A positive result is not a diagnosis. It means a follow-up conversation with a primary care clinician and, likely, a colonoscopy at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital to investigate further. The drive-thru format was designed specifically for people who face barriers to in-clinic screenings: those with mobility challenges, tight schedules, or limited transportation.

The Mia Ware Foundation has partnered with Jacksonville Memorial on similar events in previous years, making this a recurring community health effort rather than a one-time offer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults starting at age 45 and continuing through age 75. Residents who missed this week's distribution should contact Jacksonville Memorial Hospital or their primary care provider directly to ask about obtaining a kit.