For 15 years, the gymnasium at Ocie Hill has played host to the Minority Health Fair in Mansfield with as many as 400 people in attendance. On Saturday, more than 20 vendors set up booths to pass out brochures, provide health screenings, and educate the public on living healthier lives.
The Ocie Hill cafeteria provided two types of homemade oatmeal, cereal, fruit with coffee and juice for breakfast. The event offered cholesterol screenings, a blood drive, hand massages, tetanus shots along with goodie bags filled with toothbrushes, toys for children, and promotional items.
Richland Public Health Department Commissioner Martin Tremmel, and his Assistant Dave Reynolds were in attendance, eating breakfast and visiting the booths. “This has always been a hugely popular event,” said Tremmel. Pointing to his bowl of oatmeal, he said, “And this is the best oatmeal around.”
Some of the vendors included the YMCA, Ocie Hill Summer Camp, Visiting Nurses Association, Area Agency on Aging, Mansfield/Richland County Library, Catalyst Life Services, Lifeline of Ohio and many others. Several families walked among the booths and collected information, items, and health screenings.
Anna Mae Smith and her two granddaughters each held a bag of goodies. “The girls got new toothbrushes and I got my tetanus shot,” said Anna Mae who is seventy-two and single-handedly raising her granddaughters. “This is the fifth year I’ve come to this and I always come away with new ways of keeping my girls healthy and busy.”
Debra Wherrybey of Friends of Ocie Hill Summer Camp said this event was great at bringing not only health awareness to the community, but knowledge of services. “People don’t realize all the services available to them for free or for a very low fee,” said Wherrybey. “This is our way of educating the public.”
“People don’t realize all the services available to them for free or for a very low fee,” said Debra Wherrybey. “This is our way of educating the public.”
