NorthShore Health Centers sponsored its eighth annual health fair at the U.S. Steel Yard on Sunday, August 11. During the event, the Gary SouthShore RailCats played a home game against the Kane County Cougars. Twenty-five of NorthShore’s community partners set up tables, ready to explain their services and programs to passersby. When they weren’t watching the game, baseball fans talked with the vendors and were given informational pamphlets and free merchandise like stress balls, Band-Aid kits, hand sanitizer, and even rubber ducks.
Rachel Sanchez, chief operating officer at NorthShore, enjoys holding the health fair during a RailCats home game every year.
“This is such a fun event for not only our patients, but also the many staff who are here today,” Sanchez said. “It's a fun day for everybody to come out, learn more about NorthShore, learn more about our partners, and have a good time at the game with their family. One of our primary goals today is to spread the word about our new Gary clinic, which is very exciting. We want everyone to know that we’re here, we’re growing, and we’re dedicated to serving the many different communities in the area however we can.”
The NorthShore representatives offered applications for a number of positions within the organization. They also advertised the organization’s wide array of services, including primary care, pediatric care, podiatry, chiropractic, vision, mental health support, and substance abuse services.
“We’ve been putting this health fair on for a long time now and it’s been great to watch it evolve and grow,” the director of community engagement at NorthShore Gervay Dickerson said. “NorthShore is all about providing access, and we want the community to know that we’re here for them. We provide all of the services that a person or even an entire family would need, from OB-GYN services to eye care and dental care. This fair is an excellent way to showcase the many resources that NorthShore and our wonderful community partners offer. It’s truly awesome.”
MDWise, St. Jude House, Lake Brothers Syrup Company, Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Hospice Northwest Indiana (NWI), Southlake Martial Arts, and Ironworkz Co., were several of NorthShore’s community partners that participated in the health fair. Alexis Riley, senior director of clinical operations at NorthShore, considers a baseball game to be an excellent setting for the health fair.
“What better place to engage with the community than at a baseball game?” Riley said. “Most everybody loves baseball and today’s game had a great turnout. I think everyone is still experiencing that Olympics excitement. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to tell people about some community resources that they may be unaware of. So many of our community partners came out today and it’s really great to see that they are just as dedicated to reaching out and supporting the community as we are at NorthShore.”
NorthShore attendants also distributed a handout that listed several of the organization’s upcoming events. These included a Diabetic Management class that will be held on August 15, an Art for Wellness class that will be held on August 26, and two Purdue University-affiliated nutrition classes that will be held on August 20 and 27.
Ebonie Tarleton, director of clinical operations at NorthShore, believes that the baseball game offers NorthShore representatives the opportunity to interact with community members in a special way.
“It's nice to step outside of the clinical setting, get out into the community, and show them what NorthShore has to offer,” Tarleton said. “Usually people only come into our office when they are experiencing health issues, so it’s nice to give them the chance to engage with us in a more personal and relaxed setting. I really enjoy talking to members of the community about our services while they’re in their element alongside friends and family.”
Denise Carpenter, director of communications at NorthShore, believes that the health fair effectively reflects NorthShore’s values.
“This event proves that we mean it when we say we will meet people where they are,” Carpenter said. “Even if they’re out at the ballpark, we want to make sure that they have access to community resources that will help them live their healthiest lives. Our goal is to build a healthy community, one patient at a time. It’s really great to see the spectators interacting with our different community partners here. This is the first health fair we’ve held here since our new Gary branch opened, so I hope that the Gary residents here today can see that we are ready to support them right here in their community.”
For more information about the multitude of medical services, programs, and events that NorthShore Health Centers offers, please visit northshorehealth.org.
