In Philadelphia Adventists Prepare for Large Community Fair
by Monte Sahlin
By AT News Team, August 28, 2014
About 3,500 Philadelphia residents are expected at a community fair being organized by Adventists for Labor Day Weekend. The event will include distribution of free school supplies for children up through middle school, free health screenings by professionals, a cycling event and a free meal at lunch.
The event is being organized by the Adventist Humanitarian Resource Center (AHRC), a community agency sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and will include nearly two dozen cosponsors. They include Clean Rental Company, Cobra Electronics Corporation, Keystone First, Keystone Volvo, La Yogurt, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Phillyfreecycle, Rita's Water Ice of Grant Avenue, Rite Aid Corporation, SoSoya Foods, Staples, Sysco Foods Philadelphia, Trader Joe's, Tree Ripe Juices and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
Participating organizations, most of whom will have booths, also include the American Diabetes Association, American Association of Retired Persons, the Alzheimer's Association, American Lung Association, American Red Cross, Bank of America, CareerLink, Community Behavioral Health, First Home Care, Friends of Pennypack Park, Guardian Civic League, Health Promotion Council, Huntingdon Valley Christian Academy, InspiriTec, Lions Clubs International, Nazareth Hospital, Northeast Victim's Services, Novo Nordisk, PECO Smart Ideas, Philadelphia Fire Department, Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Streets Department, Philadelphia Water Department, Philly Rising Collaborative, Ready Willing and Able, Rhawnhurst NORC, Sabbath Keepers Motorcycle Ministry, The School District of Philadelphia, Special People In Northeast, United Health Plan, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Women's Infants and Children Feeding Program, and Wordsworth.
The Adventist organizations collaborating in this event include both the Allegheny East Conference and the Pennsylvania Conference, Pine Forge Academy and Washington Adventist University. It will be held on the campus of the Boulevard Adventist Church in North Philadelphia at 8441 Roosevelt Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 31.
Screening tests will be provided for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and body mass index, as well as confidential HIV and STD tests. Most of the organizations with exhibits at the fair will also have variety of prizes and raffles, including a laptop computer.
Tents for the exhibits and screening clinics are being provided by Allegheny East Conference. Volunteers pitched the tents on Friday, September 4. Setup for the Phillyfreecycle event will begin at 8:30 Sunday morning.
"We anticipate a turnout of 3,500 people," Darryl Stovall, chairman of the board for AHRC, told Adventist Today. "Working together we can provide a safe, memorable and enjoyable experience for all who attend."
