The 30th-annual Community Health Fair and Family Fun Day was held Saturday, June 11 with a great turnout at Grace Community Church in Washington C.H.
While the event was downsized in comparison to prior years, it still featured free and reduced-cost health screenings, blood work courtesy of Adena Fayette Medical Center, mammograms, numerous organizations present to share information, car seat checks and installation courtesy of Help Me Grow, yoga courtesy of Indigo Roots Studio, first responders from Washington Court House, family fun — including clowns and a Columbus Zoo appearance, and food vendors including Two Scoops of Sugar, Kona Ice, Donatos, and Aloha Tacos and more.
Cheryl Royster of Adena, the chairperson of the health fair committee, explained, “I am the chair, but I really consider (Fayette County Help Me Grow Supervisor) Sharon Gibbs (and I) as co-chairs. (I’d like to comment) how pleased I am that the health fair is back and the wonderful response we had from the community, not to mention how blessed we were with the beautiful weather. I’m very happy with the event and outcome.”
The following is information that was shared by various organizations present at the health fair:
Providing skin damage screening was OSU Extension FCS Educator Sarah Sowell.
Sowell explained, “OSU Extension provides the skin damage screens to help prevent skin cancer in Fayette County as well as other counties in Ohio to reduce the risk and (raise) awareness by showing people the damage that they may have already, or how to identify by educating them.”
She further explained it is important and good to use protective eyewear, sunscreen, clothing that provides sun protection, etc.
“If it looks freckly, that’s skin damage. So, a lot of us think that freckles is just being out in the sun. Well, that’s true, but it’s also sun damage.”
Those who are worried about spots are typically advised to see a dermatologist.
Vision screenings at the health fair were once again provided by “Better Vision, Better Hope,” which is a non-profit out of Texas. Employees from the local business Optique Family Vision Care volunteered their time to assist during the health fair.
According to Missi Adams, a dual licensed optician at Optique, “basically what we do is we do full vision eye exams, they pick out glasses, and Better Hope, Better Vision lab based in Dallas — we will send everything there, they will make the glasses, and will send them to (Fayette County Public Health) to be dispensed.”
Adams explained they were able to do 25 pairs of glasses.
Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health (SPVMH) will be starting a new support group in July — “Shades of Love: LGBTQIA+” — at the Fayette Clinic, located at 1300 E. Paint St. in Washington C.H. Only clients can participate.
SPVMH also has an American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant available for school-aged children with private insurance. The grant assists eligible children by helping to cover the cost of mental health assessments, individual counseling, case management services, and offered groups.
Adena Senior Life Solutions, according to information from program director Angela Mellott, is “an intense outpatient group therapy program designed to meet the unique needs of adults typically over the age of 65.”
Senior Life Solutions is especially useful to those who have experienced a traumatic event, loss of a spouse or loved one, changes in health or physical abilities, or other difficult life transitions. Anyone can make a referral to the program by calling 740-333-2226. The national suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.
According to Mackinzie Douglas of the Alzheimer’s Association, “The Longest Day” was held in downtown Washington Court House Saturday, June 18 from 5-8 p.m. A help line for Alzheimer’s is available 24/7 by calling 800-272-3900 in which specialists can provide information, support services, and can give referrals to caregivers, those with memory loss, health care professionals and the public.
Indigo Roots, according to owners Tina and Rod Berk, will be holding “Wellness Wednesdays” at Eyman Park with free yoga classes from 5-5:45 on June 22 and 29, July 6, 13, 20 and 27, and Aug. 3 and 10. In case of rain or wet lawn, the yoga will be held at the studio, located at 120 W. Court St., third floor.
Local home health care provider, Caretenders VNA, has open spots and is located at 1450 Columbus Ave., suite 102 in Washington C.H. They can be reached by phone at 740-333-2790.
The Fayette County Early Learning Center/ Headstart is currently enrolling for all programs. They can be reached at 740-335-7138.
Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County will be hosting a Bereavement Support Group titled, “Growing through Grief” weekly from Tuesday, July 12 through Tuesday, Aug. 16 (six Tuesdays in total). They will be from 6:30-8 p.m. at Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, 222 N. Oakland Ave. and are free to attend. To register, call Michelle Kessler at 937-382-5400.
Much more information was available and will be made available again next year.
For more information, follow Fayette County Public Health on Facebook, www.facebook.com/faycohd.
