Berks Community Health Center marked National Health Center Week with a health fair Saturday on Penn Street.
The free event was designed to thank the community served by the center, said Adalbys Ventura, outreach manager.
“It’s just an opportunity to thank the community for letting us serve them and take care of their health,” Ventura said.
This year’s fair brought together a range of local partners and community-based services that set up booths and shared information and free resources.
The celebration featured children’s activities, health screenings, refreshments and more, all at no cost to the public, thanks to donations from community partners, Ventura said.
In the courtyard outside the center, 838 Penn St., BCHC’s mascot bear, Healthy Berky, danced to upbeat music played by a DJ. The costumed character was greeted by children and got more than a few bear hugs as he worked the crowd.
But for Ezra Alvarez the bear might as well have been invisible. The 2-year-old boy’s eyes were fixed elsewhere.
“He saw the bouncy house and immediately ran over here,” said his father, Eliel Alvarez, who waited in line with his son and daughter, Emelia Alvarez, 9. Both were eager for a turn jumping in the inflatable structure.
While waiting, Emelia munched on an orange, one of the healthy treats available free of charge.
The family, including the children’s mother, Alicie Rivera, arrived early for the event that ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rivera works for HGSK Law, a Reading law firm that was among the professional services represented at the fair.
“We have a wide variety of vendors and community-based organizations — lawyers, home health care agencies, nonprofits, managed-care organizations — showcasing their great resources,” Ventura said. “But aside from that, we also have nice giveaways, raffles, food and kid activities, so it’s a well-rounded event for all family members and friends.”
National Health Center Week, observed annually during the first week of August, offers a chance for nonprofit health centers across the country to highlight their work and community partnerships.
For BCHC, the occasion is an opportunity to express appreciation for residents’ trust and support, Ventura said.
The center, opened in 2012, has grown into what she described as a one-stop shop for health care. Services include primary and preventive care for newborns to seniors, along with specialty services such as dental, chiropractic, podiatry, optometry and obstetrics/gynecology.
School physical exams and vaccinations are available at all three locations: Penn Street, 1040 Liggett Ave. and 1110 Rockland St. The latter has an in-house pharmacy to make filling prescriptions easier, she said.
The organization has a mobile unit capable of bringing health services to neighborhoods throughout Berks County.
BCHC operates as a nonprofit federally qualified health center, Ventura said. That means its doors are open to all, she noted, and no patients are turned away regardless of income, insurance status or ability to pay.
A sliding fee scale helps keep costs manageable for those with limited resources, she said.
The fair is one way of celebrating the service and spreading the word.
The event Saturday was the center’s second celebration of the week. A similar event Wednesday outside the Liggett Avenue location in the city’s Oakbrook section drew about 200 people, Ventura said.
Holding multiple events helps the center reach residents in different parts of the city, she said.
Based on previous years’ attendance, she anticipated seeing 400 or more on Penn Street.
For Ventura, the weeklong celebration is as much about gratitude as outreach. It’s a chance to remind the public that BCHC is here to serve everyone in the county, she said, and to showcase the broad network of local organizations committed to improving community health.
“This is just a little thank you to the community for letting us be here,” she said.
Source: Berkshire mont
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