Gentry Go Healthy

The second annual Northwest Arkansas Go Healthy Health Expo was held recently at the Gentry Seventh-day Adventist Church.
June 3, 2018

The second annual Northwest Arkansas Go Healthy Health Expo was held recently at the Gentry Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

This was an area-wide effort supported by volunteers from nine area Adventist churches. Local doctors, dentists, physician’s assistants, nurses, dental assistants, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, representatives from Siloam Springs Hospital, a marriage and family counselor, hairdressers, and translators provided much appreciated community support. Staff from Wellness Secrets in Decatur demonstrated how to make delicious, healthy snacks.

This year the children enjoyed their own health program that included a bounce house and obstacle course. A highlight for the children was a tour of the Air Evac helicopter.

A volunteer accompanied each of our 100 guests to eight different stations. Participants received health evaluations and education as they went through the various stations.

One guest was shocked to discover that he had a dangerously high glucose count. The eye doctor discovered that a patient had very high eye pressure that could possibly indicate glaucoma. 

Free haircuts kept the hairdressers exceptionally busy. One of the ladies donated her lovely, very long hair to Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

It was encouraging that some of the community doctors and dentists were already looking forward with anticipation to next year’s health expo.

In October, as a follow-up community outreach, there was a soup-tasting and bread-making program. Eleven soups were available for tasting and three different bread-making techniques were demonstrated. What a wonderful way to make new friends in the community and to strengthen bonds among church members.

By Joyce Marter