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The tables at the event included Ventura County Health Care Agency, Department of Rehabilitation, Interface Children and Family Services, Child Development Resources, and more. They provided information to the community of the different agencies and the different resources available to them. |
Santa Paula Community Health
Fair helps less fortunate
June 03, 2015
By Noe Garcia
Santa Paula News
By Noe Garcia
Santa Paula Times
“If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything,” Mary Deines said. “Health is very important.”
That was the sentiment echoed by everyone at the Santa Paula Community Health Fair this year. The health fair was presented by the Santa Clara Valley Wellness Foundation at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Residents who don’t have health insurance came by for free health screenings and as a reward, the first 100 families also received a bag of free groceries. Children also enjoyed themselves with coloring books, crayons, and ate crackers that were given out.
Mary Deines, Executive Director of the foundation, said they expected over 100 people to attend the health fair. There were also different tables people could visit and the Ventura County Mobile Clinic.
“We want to make sure everyone around here has access to health care,” Deines said. “One of our missions is to promote the health fair in this valley and this is one of the things that we do. We want people to be aware of who we are and what we do for them. Today, people will be visiting different tables to get blood pressure checked or find out more about their health.”
The tables at the event included Ventura County Health Care Agency, Department of Rehabilitation, Interface Children and Family Services, Child Development Resources, and more. They provided information to the community of the different agencies and the different resources available to them. The mobile clinic was a large RV that, when stepped inside, looked just like a doctor’s office. It had two exam rooms with patient chairs, cotton swabs, otoscopes, and assistant physician Gabriel Ramirez on hand.
Gloria Camarillo, President of the foundation, said. “It’s very rewarding to actually see so many people come through and also just the community wanting to participate and the different agencies wanting to go ahead and participate as well.”
The groceries given to families were donated by local growers and farmers. The fresh produce included carrots, onions, cabbage, tomatoes, oranges and other vegetables and fruits. The idea behind the produce was not only to promote health, but also encourage people to cook different healthy meals.
Lynn Ruffino from Interface Children and Family services displayed a table which offered services such as counseling, parenting, youth services, anger management groups and much more.
“I’ve done this work for about 30 years so it’s great to be able to watch people benefit from our services,” Ruffino said. “For me to be a part of that and help with that is very meaningful and why I went into this field.”
Residents were not only showing up for the health fair but also in the anticipation of the Santo Niño de Atocha which comes once a year for 10 days. The church is expecting over 10,000 people to come over the next 10 days while the Saint is present at the church.
“People of faith come and give thanks and ask for miracles to happen,” Camarillo said. “We have different participants. There’s Aztec dancers, Indian dancers, bands that come in from out of state from Las Vegas, Arizona and all volunteers. They want to perform and just be here.”
This is the fifth year the Santa Paula Community Health Fair has taken place and many more can be expected. People enjoyed their health screenings, information, groceries, and the care the Santa Clara Valley Wellness Foundation showed.
“I’m in awe that we had this reach out to the people and I’m very grateful for [these people] to take their time,” Father Charles Lueras, pastor of the church, said. “They could be any place in this part of California, but they come here to serve our people.”
