St. John’s Hospital hosts wellness fair

Families came out in droves to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s Community and Back to School Wellness Fair on Aug. 3. The sun shined as the hospital had the street in front of the building set up games for the children and tables with vital information for their parents.

Organizations in attendance included Healthfirst, a low-cost health insurer, Centers Adult Day Care, the Queens Library and the Rockaway, which was there to help register voters. The hospital was also offering free blood pressure and health screenings.

Two years ago, St. John’s decided to combine their back-to-school event with its community wellness fair. “Parents have to go to 10 tables,” said Vice President of External Affair Renee Hastick-Motes. “They then turn in their voucher for a backpack and school supplies.”

As parents went from table to table, the kids had a chance to play games, like pop-a-shot basketball or inflatable darts. There was also face painting, music and even a rock wall for kids to climb. Drake’s “In My Feelings” came on twice during the day, and both times the children rushed the stage do dance.

Adrian James, brought her nine-year-old son Arthur James Jr. “My sister works at the hospital and told me about the event,” she said. “There’s a lot of good information here.”

Arthur had been working his way up the rock wall. After coming down he said that it was his favorite activity he had done there to that point. Other kids spent most of their time shooting hoops, and a few didn’t leave the inflatable dart board the entire time.

With temperatures hovering near 90°, there were several bins filled with ice and water bottles, and next to the DJ booth and dance floor there were free Italian ices. Clouds did began to gather over the event by roughly 2 p.m., and while it was a nice break from the burning sun, the threat of rain meant that it was time to move forward with the giveaway. Lines of families formed on all sides around two tables were hospital employees and volunteers from local high schools handed out the backpacks.

St. John’s CEO Gerald Walsh and Hastick-Motes received a check for $1.025 million dollars from Councilmember Donovan Richards Jr., to help renovate the labor and delivery department. With $3 million from Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and the money raised by the hospital, St. John’s now has more than $5 million for the project. “We need the community to be supportive of the hospital so the hospital can continue to support the community,” Richards Jr. said.

Walsh thanked Richards, as well as the more than 40 community organizations and vendors who helped run the event. Walsh added that last year between 700 and 800 backpacks were handed out last year. This year it was increased to 2,000. “It’s a great chance to give the kids an opportunity to have some fun, while we give back to the community,” he said. “It lets us show that we’re here to support them. Not only when they’re sick, but when they’re healthy too.”