CHARLESTON, Mo. (KFVS) – The Mississippi County Health Department will celebrate 75 years of serving the community with a free health fair.
On Thursday, July 25 the community can come by the department at 1200 E. Marshall St. in Charleston, Missouri for free health services, classes and demonstrations, activities for children and more.
Before the health fair begins, a one-mile community walk will take place at 7:15 a.m., sponsored by RAC.
Then from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the health department is offering free health testing services:
- Visual acuity and color and depth perception tests
- Bone density scans
- Blood pressure checks
- Skin cancer screenings
- Glucose and cholesterol screenings
- Free rapid HIV and syphilis tests
- Gonorrhea and chlamydia screenings
Dancing and movement classes will also be offered every hour.
More than 35 other local organizations and vendors will be onsite to provide services as well, including:
- DAEOC Adult Learning Center will conduct cooking demonstrations with taste-testing opportunities
- SEMO Food Bank will have a truck serving the first 250 families that come up beginning at 11 a.m.
- Shoes from the Heart is offering 50 pairs of shoes on a first-come, first-serve basis
- University of Missouri Extension Center will offer smoothie samples made using a blender bike
- SEMO Humane Society will have a petting pen with animals available for adoption
Children’s activities include face painting, EMS vehicles, an obstacle course and other activities promoting a healthy lifestyle.
There will also be door prizes and giveaways. Participants who visit every booth at the fair will be entered to win a $150 or $75 Visa Gift Card.
Paris Robbins said it’s important to offer these health opportunities to people living in rural areas like Mississippi County, especially following the difficulties of the pandemic.
“We have a wonderful community that we serve. We’ve been doing so for 75 years, and we feel like this is the least we can do, to have this great event for everybody and to have lots of fun on this day.”
Robbins said there will also be a history display chronicling the health department’s evolution through the decades.
To learn more, visit the Mississippi Co. Health Department’s website or Facebook page.
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