CHICAGO — A first-of-its-kind festival was held on Saturday to help South Side residents stay healthy and fit while also having a little fun.
St. Bernard Hospital hosted its first community Fit Fest on Saturday.
The free event, which kicked off at 10 a.m. in the 6300 block of South Yale Aveon, in Englewood, promised something for everyone, from preventative screenings to game.
“For those who don’t have insurance and have the resources that they need to get this act of kindness, this is awesome, and that’s what brought me out,” attendee Jerry Patton said.
For more than a decade, St. Bernard held smaller community health fairs, but as a strategy to expand access, staff aimed to spread the message with the feel of fun.
“Every three years we do our community health needs assessment, and one of the things that comes up every time is health education and access,” organizer Diahann Sinclair said.
From bouncy houses to games of bingo, Saturday’s event was all about building trust in the healthcare system.
“We are hoping that as we build that trust, we will get them to come in. But we recognize as a hospital, that we have to do more than stay within our doors, we have to get outside and that’s another reason why we are doing this,” Sinclair said.
Saturday’s event was also a celebration of St. Bernard Hospital’s 120th anniversary.
Visit St. Bernard Hospital’s website for more information on the services provided.