Kids Health Fair attracts big crowd

(Published Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010)  

POMONA - Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center's Family Health Center was bustling with activity Saturday (July 31) as a stream of young patients accompanied by their parents went from one exam room to another undergoing various health screenings.

The height-and-weight checks, along with vision and dental screenings and immunization administration, all were provided free to children ages 2 months to 18 years as part of the hospital's annual Kids Health Fair.

Numerous families attended Saturday's fair, an event that offered parents such as Elizabeth Harrigan of Upland a way to get her daughter Alexandria Franklin, 4, ready for school.

"To get her into preschool she has to have her shots," Harrigan said.

Before starting the school enrollment process "I wanted to take care of the shots first," Alexandria said.

Alexandria required a total of six shots, and she calmly sat through them all without crying.

The event is organized by the hospital with the involvement of numerous volunteers representing various service clubs, teachers and nurses from the Pomona Unified School District and area health care professionals, along with students and faculty from Western University of Health Sciences.

Among the volunteers was Judy Sanders of Chino Hills.

The retired Pomona Unified School District teacher is a member of the Soroptimist of Pomona/Claremont.

Sanders has participated in the Kids Health Fair for the past eight years.

"The health care needs in our community are tremendous. Families have a tremendous need, and there are very few places where they can get those needs met," Sanders said.

With the help of the hospital and the health fair, some of those needs are addressed, she said.