A health fair brings free expertise to your community along with an opportunity for church outreach.
A church health fair provides valuable information to your congregation and also serves as a community outreach project. Allow ample time for planning and consider whether a theme is appropriate for your health fair. Take advantage of resources within your church, seek donations and publicize widely. Think about which church services or events you want to share with participants and what booths or activities the church will sponsor at the event.
Instructions
Plan a health fair
1. Create a committee of volunteers to brainstorm, plan and guide the process. Create subcommittees as needed to take on various aspects of the project, such as collecting donations, lining up exhibitors and creating publicity materials. Select a date and time. Verify that your church or other venue is available.
2. Finalize the goals and focus of your health fair, including whether you will use it as a community outreach effort. If so, think about what church-related events or services you want participants to learn about during the event. Try to select those that align closely with the health fair, such as exercise classes or team sports nights held in the church's gym. Discuss whether the fair will address a specific theme or community need, such as preventing diabetes or heart disease.
3. Brainstorm possible community agencies and businesses that might provide free or low-cost donations, brochures or other information for exhibits. Local police, firefighters or paramedics might be willing to set up an exhibit or display a vehicle to share health and safety information. Check within your congregation for individuals who work in or are connected to these fields. A local clinic may be able to offer vision screenings, dental screenings or flu shots. Include a church administrator on your planning team to advise you of any potential liability issues.
4. Check that you have something for all the age ranges that you hope to attract. For example, door prizes, raffle drawings or fun games draw a wide audience. However, other offerings, such as free diabetic screenings or workshops on caring for elderly relatives may also be appreciated. Save money with donated prizes and giveaways. Try to include one take-home item at each activity or booth, including a spot where participants can pick up a bag to carry items.
5. Publicize your health fair through as many venues as possible. Local radio or TV stations may have free public service announcement or event calendars available. Newspapers often will print such announcements in a calendar or community corner. Consider flyers, websites and social media outlets. List the event in your church bulletin and create a phone tree to contact all church members. Place a banner outside the church or list the event on your church's sign. Send your flyers to interested communities, such as the local senior citizens center.
6. Create a map of where each booth or activity will be placed both indoors and out. If your event includes outdoor activities, create a back-up plan in case of rain. Plan in advance for as many volunteers as possible, and organize who will do what and when. Set up as many booths as possible the day before the event.
Tags: health fair, your church, your health, your health fair, community outreach, event your
