VCU Wellness Block Party provides free services and health screenings in the community

A volunteer health sciences student checks the blood pressure of a participant during the MCV Campus Student Government Association's eighth annual VCU Wellness Block Party.
 The Virginia Commonwealth University MCV Campus Student Government Association partnered with the Seventh District’s Healthy U and Camp Diva’s Date with Dad Weekend to host its eighth annual community health fair on March 21 at Armstrong High School, providing free health screenings, wellness education and follow-up resources to approximately 500 children and adults from the Richmond community.

 The student-organized and student-run VCU Wellness Block Party, formerly the VCU/MCV Community Health Fair, was open to the public and free of charge. The block party provided a variety of general health screenings, including glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure, to both adults and children. Dental services and STI/HIV screenings were also offered, and doctors and pharmacists were available to answer any questions or concerns participants had.
“The number of participants far exceeded past years. We had a great time and had wonderful support from all of our sponsors and partners,” said Garrett Lyon, advertising chair of the VCU Wellness Block Party. “By all accounts this truly had the feeling and energy of a block party.”
More than 60 tables from various organizations stretched through the halls and were stacked high with educational materials and full goody bags. Helpful representatives from each organization provided information related to family resources, health insurance, clinics, mental health, housing, nutrition, legal aid and education.
The fair also featured guests such as Black Thought, from The Roots, and Richmond’s Chad Coleman, from “The Wire” and “The Walking Dead.” Sports Backers provided a fun obstacle course and activities for children, and Rodney the Ram and Nutzy were on hand to entertain both the children and adults in attendance. Live music was provided by 106.5 The Beat, which broadcasted live from the event.  An iPad mini, a new bike, Flying Squirrels game tickets and a basketball signed by Shaka Smart were the most popular among the day's raffle prizes.
Volunteers are needed in the fall to help plan for next year’s health fair. If interested in volunteering, contact healthfairvcu@gmail.com. For more information, visit http://www.healthfairvcu.org/.


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