Cary Medical Center’s 38th annual Health Fair, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center, is gearing up to be a source of wellness information and resources with exhibitions from area agencies.
At the event, slated from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., attendees can take advantage of health screenings, including blood sugar and cholesterol testing, as well as the first of Cary’s annual free flu shot clinics.
Returning to the health fair this year is a unique, family-friendly and interactive event called Touch-A-Truck that allows children to see, touch and safely explore their favorite big trucks and heavy machinery, as well as meet the personnel who protect, serve and build the local community. Vehicles will include tractors, emergency responders, tractor trailers, utility trucks, ambulance, police vehicles and snow equipment.
In their mission to “Create Healthier Communities,” the hospital is asking health fair attendees to help address Aroostook County food insecurity by bringing a non-perishable food or cash donation to benefit the local Catholic Charities food banks and pantries.
“Food insecurity is a real issue in Aroostook County and while the Catholic Charities food bank provides free food every month to 24 food pantries throughout Aroostook County, we also help distribute food from programs designated for specific age groups, like the CSFP, a program strictly for seniors age 60 and up,” said Dixie Shaw, director of Hunger and Relief Services at Catholic Charities.
While the CSFP has ample food supplied for that age group, food and cash donations are still essential for us to continually provide food through those 24 food pantries to our other vulnerable populations that do not qualify for that program,” Shaw said.
Bethany Zell, Healthy You program director and coordinator of the Health Fair, added, “As a community hospital, our providers see the impact of food insecurity first-hand. We are happy to use our outreach efforts to generate food and cash donations to benefit the Catholic Charities food bank and help those in need in Aroostook County.”
Everyone who brings a food or cash donation will receive a token of thanks and an entry into a prize drawing. Currently, baking supplies (flour, sugar, oils, Bisquick type mixes, etc.) are the most imminent need.
Additionally, the Caribou Police Department will have a drug take-back station at the fair to accept unwanted and unused medications for safe disposal.
For more information about the health fair or to register as an exhibitor, contact Zell at 498-1361 or bzell@carymed.org.
Submitted by the Community Relations and Development Office of Cary Medical Center.
