Community Day 2009 brings eastside neighborhoods together for family fun day

Contact: Todd Harper 
Phone: (317) 630-7808 
Pager: (317) 310-5972 

Indianapolis, August 25, 2009 – On Saturday, September 12, several local organizations will team up to offer free health screenings and childhood immunizations, family entertainment and helpful resources to the public at the Community Day 2009 celebration.
The fair will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Floro Torrence IPS School 83, 5050 E. 42nd St.  The event will be hosted by Forest Manor Community Health Center, North Arlington Community Health Center, IPS School 83 and the Devington Communities Association.
Free health screenings will be offered during the event including asthma, cholesterol, glucose (diabetes), skin cancer, blood pressure, dental, body mass index, STD, depression, HIV, hearing and vision.  Free immunizations for children up to 16 years of age will also be offered as long as shot records are provided. 
In addition to the screenings, a variety of community groups will be on hand to distribute important information.  Plenty of family entertainment will also be part of the day’s activities, including a kids’ carnival with exciting games. This year’s event will also include live entertainment on the Community Day stage.  Local musical and entertainment acts will be performing and showing off their skills. 
"We're hopeful that the entire eastside community will take advantage of this opportunity to obtain important health information and screenings and, in addition, enjoy the family fun fair," said Dr. Dana-Lynn Hiller, a physician at Forest Manor Community Health Center.  “It also offers a great opportunity for families to be linked with a medical home where they can go for follow-up care and routine annual appointments.”
Some of the booths that will be set up during Community Day will include information on a wide variety of topics such as child safety, asthma, Medicaid, financial counseling, educational opportunities and physical fitness.  Participating organizations in Community Day include the Neighborhood Alliance for Child Safety, Citizens Gas, Covering Kids and Families, Forest Manor Multi-Service Center, Girl Scouts, The Julian Center, Habitat for Humanity, MDwise with Ms. Bluebelle, Legacy House, Marion County Health Department, Martin University, Wheeler Ministries, Take Charge Lite Weight Loss Program at Wishard, WIC, Midtown Community Mental Health Center, and more. 
Parents are encouraged to bring their children to enjoy the clowns and free carnival games as well as a chance to jump around in the Community Day Moonwalk.  Participants may enter a contest to win door prizes and giveaways.  
Sponsors of Community Day include the American Medical Association-IU School of Medicine Chapter, Community Systemwide Response, Crystal Flash, CVS/pharmacy, Keeler-Webb Associates, Lee and Evelyn Rhyant Family Foundation, IU Medical Group and Wishard Health Services. 
Forest Manor and North Arlington community health centers provide a wide variety of healthcare services to the public including primary care for adults and children along with specialty services such as OB/GYN, social services and nutritional counseling.  The centers are part of Wishard Health Services, which operates eight community health centers located throughout Indianapolis. 
For more information about Community Day, please call (317) 226-4283.