Racine Church Holds Joint Health Fair and Free Dental Clinic with School District Family Empowerment Day

Racine Church Holds Joint Health Fair and Free Dental Clinic with School District Family Empowerment Day

On Sabbath, April 13, 2019, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, the Racine Seventh-day Adventist Church held a health fair at J. I. Case High School. The health fair was in conjunction with the Racine Unified School District’s annual Family Empowerment Day community event. Over the course of the day, the Racine Church and partnering healthcare volunteers were able to provide services to a number of community members.

The bulk of the health fair, located in the library of the high school, aimed to bring personal health awareness via health age surveys–and 35 individuals made it all the way through the survey (many more perused the fair more casually). Based on the NEWSTART model, stations were set up to provide information about nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, air, rest, and trust. Fifty massages were given, multiple spinal screenings were provided, and a number of healthcare specialists gave presentations regarding various aspects of healthy living. There were GLOW tracts, water bottles, free reader glasses, and many helpful handouts that were distributed over the course of the day.

The dental clinic, which took place in the high school theater, was comprised of four dentists, and four hygienists who performed $3,725 of free dental screenings and cleanings. Free toothbrushes and toothpaste were also distributed. There were also translators present so Spanish speaking families could communicate easily with dentists and vice versa.

This is the second year that the Racine Church has participated at Family Empowerment Day and there are already talks about our third year of involvement. The date for next year’s event is tentatively set for April 4. In response to this year’s success, event coordinator Patricia Antoine-Norton says, “My God is awesome! Amen.”

Zachary Payne, Racine District Pastor