By Nicole MOORE

On May 13, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital held a Community Health and Wellness Fair. The family-friendly event, held on the lower west parking lot of the hospital, took place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Verdugo Hills Hospital curated the event in order to promote community outreach and education for a healthy lifestyle.

“I think the fair’s great because it brings the community together and it kind of represents the hospital and what we have to offer. I think it’s good and important to have a health fair to educate the community,” said Emily Hanson, a financial counselor at the hospital.

At the event the hospital offered free health screenings, including vision, cholesterol, diabetes and stroke screening, to attendees. For children, the Crescenta Cañada YMCA provided an obstacle course and face painting. During the event, participants of YMCA classes showed off their impressive dance moves.

Booths at the fair, including those representing Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles, Comprehensive Community Health Centers, New York Life and the LASD-Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, were tailored to the input of community members.

“We have a committee and we basically talk about what we want to bring in and what services we should have for the community. We look at [community members’] questions and what people tell us they would like. Then we reach out to these different businesses to see if they’d like to come to the fair and provide services or examples of what they have to offer,” said Selina Ruiz, Verdugo Hills Hospital’s admitting manager.

For upcoming classes and events at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, visit http://uscvhh.org/patients-and-visitors/classes-events.

  Nicole MOORE