CARIBOU — Cary Medical Center’s 36 Annual Health Fair was held Sept. 24 at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center. According to Bethany Zell, Project Director at Cary who organized the event the Health Fair was one of the most successful in recent years.
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Nursing students from Northern Maine Community College and the University of Maine at Fort Kent assist with giving flu shots at the recent Cary Health Fair. More than 300 people received flu shots at the event. |
“We were somewhat concerned when we moved the event away from the high school,” said Zell, who also directs Cary’s Healthy You and Pink Aroostook programs. “But the Wellness Center worked out great. We are very grateful to the rec department staff who helped prepare the facility and were there to support the event all day.
“We also added some new elements, a Touch-a-Truck event and a Farmers’ Market,” Zell said. “Both of these events went very well and we hope to make them part of the Health Fair every year.”
Mark Shea, project director for Cary’s Power of Prevention and Drug Free Communities programs, coordinated the Touch-a-Truck event, which brought multiple vehicles to the wellness center including a ladder truck from the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department, as well as ambulances, tractors, emergency vehicles, tractor trailers and a host of other support equipment. Children were able to get up close, even sit in the vehicles, and families really enjoyed the opportunity.
“We were so pleased with the turnout and the public’s response,” said Shea. “For our first time, this went better than we had anticipated. We want to thank all the folks who made their equipment available and who had staff in attendance to present their vehicles. They were very pleased with the numbers of people who visited. It was really a great experience for kids and it helped to draw more families to the Health Fair.”
The fair also featured many traditional events. More than 300 people received free flu shots, the Cary Medical Center lab provided cholesterol and blood sugar screenings, Pines Health Services offered A-1C testing and a health trivia game, Cary’s Public Relations staff made samples of vegan ice cream available, and multiple agencies presented exhibits and information.
Tami Kilcollins, public relations specialist at Cary who coordinates the hospital’s flu shot program, said once again this year nursing students played a critical role in delivering more than 300 flu vaccines.
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| Contributed photo
Cary Medical Center’s Annual Health Fair added a ‘Touch-a- Truck’ event to this year’s program. Many organizations brought different service vehicles, farm equipment, fire trucks, ambulances and more to the health fair and children were able to get a close look at them. Here, Emily Zell, 6, tries out the cab of a tractor. She is the daughter of Jim and Bethany Zell of Caribou. |
“Student nurses from the University of Maine at Fort Kent and Northern Maine Community College have been wonderful to work with over the years,” said Kilcollins. “It is a great experience for them, and their help makes it possible for us to do hundreds of flu shots in just a few hours. We appreciate their support and the help of their instructors.”
For the first time this year, Cary invited local farmers to have a part in the Health Fair by selling goods at the event. Farmers who participated said they were very busy and plan to return next year.
Bill Flagg, director of community relations and development at Cary, said he hopes the market will grow every year.
“We love celebrating our local agricultural traditions,” said Flagg, who has been working to increase awareness and institutional purchasing of locally grown produce. “People can really get great bargains at these Farmer’s Markets and they get the freshest, healthiest foods. This was a great first effort and we hope to build on its success.”
Organizers estimated some 500 people attended. Flagg said the tradition continues because of the support provided by the many event participants.
“It is amazing to think that this event has been going on for more than 36 years,” said Flagg, who with the Cary Medical Center Ladies Auxiliary began the Health Fair in 1979. “While other organizations now do their own Health Fairs and the event has evolved over time, many of the original agencies that started with us are still presenting today.
“The Health Fair has always been a way of giving back to the public for all the support they have demonstrated towards Cary Medical Center over the years. We are so grateful to all the agencies, health care professionals, volunteers and others who help to make this event such a great public service,” Flagg said.
Results of cholesterol and blood sugar screening were mailed to participants. To learn more about the fair, contact Zell at bzell@carymed.org or 498-1158.
