In Elmont, a Community Health Fair gave residents the opportunity to prioritize their health and well-being through free screenings, education and community resources.
Hosted by Assemblymember Michaelle Solages in partnership with Legislator Carrié Solages, Legislator Cynthia Nuñez and the Diana Sanon Organization, the event brought together a wide range of healthcare providers and advocacy groups focused on improving access to care.
Providers including NYU Langone Health and Northwell Health offered services such as blood pressure screenings, eye exams and general wellness education. Medical students and a resident doctor from Northwell assisted with eye pressure tests and vision screenings, helping detect early signs of conditions like glaucoma.
The fair emphasized preventive care, with services including cholesterol and diabetes screenings, dental information, BMI evaluations and hearing tests. Community members also had access to receive HIV, syphilis and hepatitis screenings, along with access to health education resources.
“We’re out here to be part of the community, to provide whatever kind of support we have,” said Juleigh Chin, associate program manager at North Shore University Hospital.
The event also aligned with Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, highlighting the importance of addressing mental health alongside physical health. The fair placed an emphasis on reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations.
“All these healthcare affiliations really care about the community,” Assemblywoman Solages said. “They want to provide support and help.”
She added that sometimes people are scared to know where they stand health-wise and to face their diagnosis, so providing more accessible resources and health screenings can help eliminate that barrier.
Community-based organizations played a key role in expanding outreach beyond traditional healthcare. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was among the groups present, educating attendees about gun safety and framing gun violence as a public health issue.
“Gun violence is the number one killer of children ages 0 to 18,” said Janet Goldstein, local group lead of Moms Demand Action on Long Island. “We do whatever we can to educate people and protect our communities.”
Goldstein added that outreach is central to the group’s mission. “We go wherever we can to share our messaging and also to raise awareness of gun violence and do what we can to save our community,” she said.
Additional services were provided by the New York Doctor of Audiology Consortium, a program spanning Adelphi, Hofstra and St. John’s universities, which offered audiology rescores to attendees.
By bringing healthcare providers and community organizations together in one setting, the fair aimed to reduce barriers to care and create a more welcoming environment for individuals who may be hesitant to seek medical attention. The initiative highlights the importance of accessible, community-based healthcare and continued outreach efforts beyond Elmont.
