Community comes together for Roots to Wellness health fair: A day of learning, resources, and support

Improving Health through Roots to Wellness

A day filled with a plethora of community health resources, informative presentations, and fun giveaways is what attendees of the Roots to Wellness: Black History Month Health Fair encountered at the event on February 18th. Despite the threat of winter weather, nearly 300 individuals participated in the event hosted by Lincoln University Cooperative Extension at the Diane Sayre Recreation Center in Caruthersville.

The event consisted of three main components: a community vendor fair, health presentations and demonstrations, and a food box distribution. Over 200 participants completed an event “passport” by visiting at least eight vendor booths. Each vendor was given a stamp to verify booth visits to use throughout the event. Upon completion of the passport and voluntary event evaluation, participants received a food box to take home and were entered into a drawing for door prizes.

The food boxes contained high-quality protein and items that are readily prepared by families. When preparing the boxes, the inclusion of healthy food items was a primary focus. This distribution was coordinated through a partnership with the Pemiscot County Community Accelerators initiative benefiting 200 households in the area.

Community support was essential in executing this health fair. Organizations that participated are:

Aging Matters

American Cancer Society “VOICES”

American Civil Liberties Union

Building Blocks of Southeast Missouri

Butler County Health Department

Caruthersville Parents as Teachers

Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program

DAEOC Community Resources

DAEOC Adult Education Program

Davita Dialysis Center

Department of Social Services

Diane Sayre Recreation Center

FCC Behavioral Health Clinic

FCC Substance Abuse Prevention Team

FCC Suicide Prevention

Fit with Phyllis

Heritage Nursing Center

Legacy Hospice

Lincoln University Cooperative Extension 4-H

LUCE Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program

Missouri Children’s Division

Missouri Kidney Foundation

MU Food & Nutrition Education Program

MU Parent Link

New Madrid Family Resource Center

PCBDD County Disability Resources

Pemiscot County Health Department

PIN Missouri Mentoring Program

Pemiscot Initiative Network (PIN)

Pemiscot Memorial Hospital

Saint Francis Healthcare System

SEMO Food Bank

SEMO Health Network

Siteman Cancer Center

St. Francis Park Assisted & Independent Living

University of Missouri Extension

VNA of Southeast Missouri

Wayne Chiropractic

Lunch for the event vendors and volunteers was sponsored by FCC Behavioral Health and catered by Mama’s Boys Cafe of Caruthersville. Additional sponsors of the day were Century Casino Caruthersville and Home State Health.

Roots to Wellness was one event in a series celebrating Black History Month offered by the LUCE Caruthersville Outreach Center. Continuing and special programs are offered each month. Contact the LUCE Caruthersville Outreach Center at 573.333.5567 for more information.