The Levin Family Foundation will be holding a free wellness fair and lunch on April 24 in the Ponitz Center that will be open to the public.
“(The wellness fair) is designed to provide free health screenings for underserved people in the community,” said Volunteer Coordinator Wanda Jelus. “People in the community have absolutely loved the health fair. The feedback we usually get is that they had a good time, they get lots of health screenings and then they tell their friends and it grows every year.”
Jelus said more than 4,000 people attended the event last year and they are expecting approximately 5,000 this year. Mammograms, HIV testing, cholesterol screenings, vision screenings, diabetic foot checks, hearing screenings, PSA blood tests and certificates to have pets spayed and neutered will be made available at the event by vendors such as Premier Community Health, Prevent Blindness Ohio and the Humane Society.
Jelus said those intersted can get tickets the day of the event in Building 12 or by calling 223-5433 ahead of time. The tickets will also include two free RTA bus passes to provide transportation to and from the event.
“The only reason we use tickets is to track how many people actually come,” Jelus said.
Debbie Fox, grants manager for the Levin Family Foundation, said lunch will consist of spaghetti with the choice of either a meat or vegetarian sauce, as well as a taco bar. Jelus said prizes such as computers, TVs, bicycles, toys and groceries will be awarded to several attendees.
All children attending the event will also receive a free bike helmet form the Junior League of Dayton. Jelus said more than 100 Sinclair students volunteered at the event last year and that anyone interested in volunteering this year can call e-mail her at Wanda.Jelus@sinclair.edu..
“For myself, volunteering at the event was amazing, I have never seen so many people who are underserved at one place at one time,” Jelus said. “And if we could make any difference in even just one of their lives and make them healthier, that’s just the most wonderful success.”
What: Celebrating Life and Health free wellness fair and lunch
When: April 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Ponitz Center (Building 12)
Cost: Call 223-5433 for free tickets ahead of time or pick them up in Building 12 the day of the event.
Vendors: Access Center, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, AIDS Resource Ohio, AL-Anon, American Red Cross, Artemis Center, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Caresource, Center for Healthy Communities, Dayton Public Schools Head Start, Diabetes Assoc Dayton Area, East End Community Services, Epilepsy Foundation, Essential Tremor Support, Family Service Association, Grandview Hospital/Cassano Health Center, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society of Greater Dayton, Junior League of Dayton, Kettering College of Medical Arts, Kettering Fire Department, Kettering Medical Center Community Wellness, Lucky the Clown, Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, Miami Valley Hospital Women’s Services, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Planned Parenthood SW Ohio, Premier Community Health, Prevent Blindness Ohio, Project READ, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Samaritan Behavioral Health, SICSA, Sinclair Community College Dental Hygiene, Small Smiles of Dayton, Unified Health Solutions, United Rehabilitation Services, Wright State Student Sight Savers, Wright State University Medical Students, and YMCA.