Annual health and information day takes place
SUPERIOR - Many people, young and old, came out to support the annual health and information fair at Superior Elementary School.
The free event April 12 was sponsored by the Mineral County Community Outreach Program, also known as Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
It wasn’t the typical healthcare environment-no finger pricks, long waits or health insurance woes. Just medical information provided to those who need it.
Mineral County citizens who were interested in their health came out and circled the gym, going from table-to-table indulging in important information that one day could save their lives, or make improvements.
The event provided health care information from the Mineral County Health Department which was giving out information on how to use the helpline, Mineral Community Hospital, information on assisted living for seniors, the Montana Breast and Cervical Group of Missoula, Planned Parenthood of Missoula and Mineral County Firewise.
Many were local volunteers donating time to the community, as were others of the respective groups on hand.
People were also able to obtain lab results from the Mineral Community Hospital, if waiting to be picked-up.
The event also included a free lunch and a raffle drawing from prizes donated by the vendors on hand.
“Being we are a senior community, we try to provide health related information,” said Mary Jo Berry,RSVP coordinator for Mineral County.
After a successful run this year, Berry is hopeful for more health information related sessions in the future.
“Our RSVP group tries to do something once a month that’s health related,” Berry said. “In the past we have done things for breast cancer awareness, diabetes, Alzheimer’s (disease), cancer information for men and women or whatever else people want.”
Berry said that RSVP used to be part of the hospital guild, but has since separated from the hospital and now call themselves RSVP Community Outreach.
“When we were with the hospital we used to do the health fair, but the hospital stopped doing it and RSVP picked it up,” Berry said. “This is the first one in four years even though the hospital does one similar now.”
Because of RSVP’s interest in providing quality medical information to its community, there will be similar type of informational sessions going forward, if not more.
The sunshine and the warm temperatures may be a reminder for those who attended the clinic, perhaps it’s never a bad time to leave the car at home and walk or ride a bike to their next destination.
Now that spring has sprung, more people will likely be ecstatic to get outside and engage in more activity.
However, there is always that select few that take their health for granted. These are the people that the RSVP group hopes to help with their numerous health education information sessions. As long as
RSVP holds sessions, there is hope to convince as many people as possible to adopt a healthy lifestyle.