|
Department
e-mail links
What
identifies a Duke Power service worker? Not sure?
Check
out this link
to learn how to spot a real utility worker from one who could
be out to scam you.
County Links
School Links
Other online publications
| |
|
Well
and Good
Better
living promoted at Wellness Celebration
September
17, 2006
By MEGAN
VARNER
Index-Journal
senior staff writer
 |
| Health science technology
student Laporsha Roundtree performs a blood pressure
check Saturday on Greenwood resident Janice Sullivan
during the 12th annual Wellness Celebration at the
Greenwood Mall. More than 140 local agencies and
organizations were on hand at the event.
| The store-wide sales weren’t
the only things drawing crowds of people to the Greenwood Mall
on Saturday.
More than 140 local agencies and organizations
filled the mall this weekend, offering Lakelands area
residents an opportunity to learn more about the various
health care, community, economic, family and spiritual
services offered in Greenwood and surrounding
communities.
The 12th annual Wellness Celebration, which
was expected to draw about 6,000 people throughout the day,
was organized to ensure that area residents have healthy
bodies, minds and spirits, said Toni Able, director of
neighborhood development for the Greenwood Area Chamber of
Commerce.
“This helps educate the citizens of the Greenwood
community on the services provided by the hundreds of agencies
and organizations that are represented here today,” Able said,
adding that the event grows in participants each year.
“It
continually exceeds our expectations,” Able said.
South
Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and U.S Rep. Gresham Barrett spoke
to the crowd during the event’s opening ceremonies, and
throughout the day people stopped by booths inside mall stores
and hallways, gathering information and free items from
different areas.
One area attracting a crowd was the
Healthcare Corner, which featured free health screenings,
fitness evaluations, massage demonstrations and opportunities
to donate blood.
“This is an important area because it
provides health screenings for thousands of people who
otherwise might not have access to them,” said Self Regional
Healthcare President and CEO John Heydel, who was on hand for
the event. “It gives them a centralized location for multiple
screenings.”
Those screenings included cardiovascular,
weight, cholesterol and sugar evaluations, Heydel
said.
Greenwood resident Betty Wilson, who has attended
every Wellness Celebration, said those types of free tests are
a vital step in keeping the entire community healthy.
“You
can get a lot of people checked for health that otherwise
would have let it go,” Wilson said, adding that she had her
blood pressure taken at the event. “They give you a lot of
good information.”
But health care wasn’t the only focus of
the event, and many participants, such as Iva resident Sharon
Harvley enjoyed visiting the family- and spiritual-related
booths. The corner featured intergenerational games, parent
and child activities, music and puppets, safety tips and
church ministry information.
“I really like the church
displays,” Harvley said, adding that the event highlights the
“positive” aspects of the community.
“(The Family and
Spiritual Corner) would be good for new families moving into
Greenwood. They could find out what churches are offering
here, and that could help them make new friends, ” Harvley
said.
Nearby, the Community Corner featured arts and
crafts, children’s games, assisted living information,
educational skills information, family health and safety tips,
recycling information and voter registration.
The family
and community services were what drew Greenwood resident Allen
Kidd to the Wellness Celebration, and he said he was delighted
to see so many activities for children. He said his 3-year-old
daughter, Tianna, enjoyed the arts, crafts and
games.
“There is something here for the whole family. There
are fun things for the kids, but they are also beneficial,”
Kidd said, referring to the booths that featured bike safety
and child safety seat information.
And still others, such
as Greenwood resident Pat Crawford, came to get information on
financial services in the Economic Corner, which featured
booths on home ownership, mortgages and real estate, as well
as legal issues, personal finances, employment and educational
opportunities.
After walking through the International
Fair, which showcased artifacts, pictures and maps from
countries around the world, Crawford said she was on her way
to learn more about health and auto insurance. She and her
13-year-old son, Nicholas Hodges, planned to finish up the day
by visiting the Healthcare Corner.
“I like getting
information and I like the health screenings,” Crawford said.
“I like seeing what I can do to improve my
health.”
Megan Varner covers general assignments in
Greenwood and the Lakelands. She can be reached at 223-1811,
ext. 3308, or: mvarner@indexjournal.com
| |
|
|
|
| | |
|
| |
