Illinois Church Hosts Community Health Fair

The community care ministry team at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Berwyn, Ill., hosted a community health fair earlier this spring, welcoming their neighbors to “March into Wellness” as they grouped different healthcare providers in one place.

“We see collaboration with the community as incredibly important,” said Kay Rops, coordinator of the team, noting that personal invitations to neighbors drew out the majority of participants for the day.

Nearly 50 service providers set up tables or booths in the church’s gymnasium for the event, which ran from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, March 23. Rops said free eye exams offered by optometrist students from one of the local hospitals were “the biggest hit.” Screens for diabetes and blood pressure checks were also popular. The event also included organizations addressing other aspects of wellbeing—from community groups with programs for teenagers to immigration services and an organization providing employment internships for youth unsure of next steps after high school or who many not have finished high school.

Elois Brooks, co-chair of March into Wellness, said the church was prompted to offer the event because of care for their neighbors. “Letting the community become aware of the resources and healthcare services was valuable,” she said.

“The turnout was great. This was our first but not last fair. A lot of positive feedback was received from both the vendors and attendees,” Brooks said.

Rops said she and Brooks received mentoring on how to set up the event from Brooks’ sister, who had set up previous health fairs in other communities. The church intends to run the event again in April 2020.