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Health fair to serve low-income, homeless population
Free hair cuts, clothing and food also offered
BARSTOW • Low-income and homeless men, women and children will be able to get their medical needs met, pick up a bag of groceries, some clothes and get a hair cut in one location Wednesday.
Desert Manna Ministries and the San Bernardino County Office of Homeless Services will host Mayday Project Connect at Barstow Community College’s gymnasium. This is the first health fair to be strictly for Barstow’s low-income men, women and children, said Sheri Randolph, Desert Manna’s executive director. There also hasn’t been a health fair for Barstow’s homeless since 2003, she said.
As many as 9,000 people may attend the event, Randolph predicted. In addition to the medical screenings, people can get dental and vision examinations. Desert Manna also received between 9,000 and 12,000 pounds of food for those people to take home with them.
“I’m very interested to see how it all goes,” she said, adding that the shelter has been working on the event since December. “Just from working (at Desert Manna) I’ve heard how difficult it is for them to get any kind of medical, dental or vision services.”
Nurses from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center will be conducting blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and height and weight screenings. Nurses will also be examining patients’ potential risk for stroke, said April Baity, a nurse manager for the hospital’s mobile health van.
Patients will also find out if they’re eligible for low-income health care through the county’s Medically Indigent Adult Health Care insurance program. Baity said she sees a lot of people who are at risk for diabetes, but aren’t feeling sick. Many of her patients were able to get medication and attend follow up appointments.
Local beauty salons, Barstow Community College’s cosmetology department and the Barstow Academy of Beauty will be giving free haircuts, Randolph said. People will also be able to take a bag with shampoo, soap and a toothbrush home. A bicycle shop from Victorville will also be repairing bicycles.
For people who use public transportation, a free shuttle will be available from First Avenue and Main Street to Barstow Community College’s gymnasium. Box lunches will also be available.
Because of the fair, Desert Manna will be operating on a skeletal staff Wednesday, Randolph said. The thrift store will be closed and there won’t be lunch services.
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com
Mayday Project Connect
Where: Barstow Community College gym at 2700 Barstow Road
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday
Transportation: A free shuttle is available from the bus stop near Desert Manna Ministries on First Avenue to the gym during the event.
