Almost 300 in attendance
BANDON – The second-annual Health, Wellness, and Safety Fair, held April 17 at Ocean Crest Elementary School, taught students and parents alike how to “Treasure Your Health.”
The fair, held in the school’s gym and halls, featured vendors from Coos and Curry counties, displaying goods and services focused on health and safety. Vendors included Core 10, South Coast Early Learning Hub, Southern Coos Health Foundation, OSU Extension Service, OSU Master Gardeners, Bandon Police, Bandon Public Library, Bandon Fire Department, Curry County Aquatic Safety, Bandon Youth Center, Bandon Vision, Farm & Sea, Advantage Dental, Kids’ Hope Center, Coos Health & Wellness, Friends of Bandon Parks, Blue Sky Bike Shop, 4-H, ARK, and Smokey Bear.
In addition, there was face painting by Bandon High School students, a free bike raffle (one bike per grade) sponsored by Bandon Lions, a free clothes closet, and dinner provided by Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center’s Dietary Department, served by the BHS softball team.
The event was sponsored by the Southern Coos Health Foundation, Southern Coos Hospital, Bandon Rotary Club, Bandon Lions Club, Joseph Bain, and Roger Straus.
Bandon School District school nurse Liz Deters organized this year’s event. Deters’ position at Ocean Crest, with outreach at Harbor Lights Middle School and Bandon High School, is funded through a collaboration with the Southern Coos Health Foundation and the Bandon School District, in addition to grants and donations from the community. This is the fourth year the School Nurse position has been in place with much benefit to local schoolchildren and families.
“We had an awesome turnout for our ‘Treasure Your Health’ Health, Wellness, and Safety Fair,” Deters said. “We had close to 300 in attendance. We could not have made it possible without all our awesome vendors. They brought fun with games and goodies for the families.
“Each vendor took the time to reach out and connect with our families,” Deters added. “They say it takes a village and that is what this fair was. It was our village coming together and making connections with our families. It was so beautiful to watch.”
Deters said one of her goals this year was to find people to attend the fair who could inform families about what the community offers and who to go to for services.
“We have families in crisis situations,” Deters said. “I needed them to know that we are a safe place, and we have safe solutions for them.”
Deters also enlisted student helpers for the event, giving them the title of Health Ambassadors. The students helped with set-up and tear-down and ensured vendors were cared for throughout the fair.
“It was important to me that we had student involvement,” she said. “From an early age, leadership and service were at the forefront of my learning and I want to see that for our students. I did not have to work hard to find our helpers. Kids naturally want to participate, and they jumped at the opportunity.”
“I am humbled and grateful to be a part of this community,” Deters added. “Next year we hope to expand our health fair even further with hopes of bringing awareness to drug and suicide prevention. I’m so proud of our students and all the helpers in our community. Southern Coos Health Foundation, our amazing sponsors, and outstanding vendors made all of this possible.
“Bandon is so lucky to have the support of this wonderful Southern Coos Health Foundation bringing our community together and putting our children’s health, safety, and wellness a number one priority. I am honored to be a part of the Foundation and district.”
