CARBONDALE, Ill.— As a member of the Healthy Southern Illinois Delta Network (HSIDN) Diabetes Today Resource Team (DTRT), the University of Illinois Extension worked with Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) and the St. Louis Area Foodbank to provide a Free Health Fair at Attucks Park in Carbondale, Illinois.

Individuals were able to receive a free health screening to check blood pressure, blood sugar, BMI and cholesterol while also learning more about diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other preventable chronic diseases.

Over a dozen local and state agencies and vendors were on-hand to answer questions and share information on obtaining health insurance, finding a healthcare provider, learning more about exercise, healthy eating, tobacco cessation, mental health and more. 

University of Illinois Extension staff were on-hand to provide activity stations and programming to promote healthy food choices and active lifestyles to positively impact the families and communities we serve.

At the event, the St. Louis Area Foodbank and the Victory Dream Center served 334 families (1,226 individuals) 22,081 pounds of food through a “farmer’s market style” mobile food pantry where individuals could select the items they would like. Of those 1,226 people, 48% were children!

A similar event is scheduled for the spring of 2020. More details will be provided closer to the date of the event. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in programming, contact your local registration office. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your needs.

News writer: Heather Willis, 618-357-2126, hdwillis@illinois.edu