Lake Region—Fairhaven Church, in cooperation with local government and health agencies, recently offered the Flint community an opportunity to improve its physical, mental and spiritual health by conducting a Health Fair, focused on helping the whole person.

Health Fair visitors could be tested for AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), high blood pressure and diabetes, and were offered information on how to deal with and prevent these conditions and diseases. Visitors received samples of healthful foods and school supplies. Fairhaven's Seventh-day Adventist academy was on site to sign up prospective new students, and offered information about the well-rounded Christian education available at the church's school.

Children could be fingerprinted for I.D. badges by the Genesee County Sheriff's Department. Representatives from a fire house from the City of Flint were on hand, and instruction on fire prevention and safety in the home was offered. Helping Hands For Seniors, a leading companion service that strives to improve the quality of life for the elderly and their families, informed seniors of services available to them. Hamilton Clinic and the Black Nurses Association offered diabetes and blood pressure screenings.

Genesee County's Departments of Health, Human Services, County Food Bank, and other agencies like the YMCA and YOUR Center of Flint, each had a part in making the Health Fair a success. The best benefit of all was that all the aforementioned services, information and screenings were completely free.

Fairhaven's pastor, Charles Osborne III, said, "I am very thankful that we had the opportunity to be of service to the Flint Community. My desire was that our neighbors would know we are concerned about the issues which they are facing."

The Health Fair was held July 17 on the Fairhaven Church campus. Due to the fair's success, another fair is being planned for October.

Trevor Schluter, communication leader, Fairhaven Church