Thursday, October 1, 2026
On March 19, the Freeport Recreation Center hosted the second annual Freeport Women’s Health Fair in its gymnasium from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event, which was a part of local efforts to celebrate March as Women’s History Month, gave residents who attended meaningful counsel, screenings and other services.
The event was largely organized by the Office of Legislator Debra Mulé, in partnership with the Village of Freeport and Mayor Robert Kennedy. New York State Senator Siela Bynoe and Assemblymembers Judy Griffin and Noah Burroughs were also a part of the organizational efforts.
The Health Fair featured booths ran by healthcare providers, insurance companies and community organizations that provided various screenings, resources and advice related to women’s healthcare. Some of the organizations that were present included the Epilepsy Foundation, Mount Sinai South Nassau, Legal Services of Long Island, New York University Langone Health, C and N Guidance and Counseling, Nassau Cancer Services Program, Promoters de Salud, New York Life and more.
Legislator Mulé said that one of major additions to this year’s fair compared to last year’s are the breakout sessions that attendees could discuss menopause and maternal health with experts. Mulé emphasized the need for further women’s healthcare efforts.
“Forever most studies were done with men. Most doctors were men, most research done was based on how things worked with men. But there are very real and different health issues that women face. …So, we need to get the message out to women that if they feel something with their body that, that it could be something significant and they should get check out,” she said.
Mulé also stated that she believes the efforts of Nassau County leaders to continue improving women’s healthcare, such as the recent opening of a Hempstead lactation center, are strong and impactful for Nassau communities.
Alexandra Dixon, the legislative assistant in Mulé’s office, said that organizers look forward to continuing the expansion of the Health Fair’s services by incorporating additional vendors. She added that making additions and adjustments will also be largely based on attendee feedback that organizers receive.
“I would like to see definitely increased collaboration in partnership between not only our office, but our other government partners and local organizations,” Dixon said. She added that increasing awareness of what resources are available year-round in Freeport and neighboring communities is also a significant goal.
Vanessa Williams, a Freeport resident who attended the Women’s Health Fair, said she appreciated the services the event provided, and hopes that more residents can participate in the future. She added that making improvements to women’s healthcare a priority is important to her.
“I’m a retired nurse, and I think for people who can’t afford healthcare, there has to be a better system for them,” Williams said.
Marlene Martinez, another Freeport attendee, echoed these sentiments, mentioning that the Health Fair’s resources can help make up the deficit for those who cannot afford the often-exorbitant costs of American healthcare.
“I specifically like that there’s a lot of opportunities here for people without insurance, which I think is something that impacts our communities a lot,” Martinez said. “Insurance is expensive and life is not getting any cheaper, so I think it’s really important to have that available for the community.”
Cassandra Hendricks, a financial services professional that had a booth representing New York Life, said that she learned about the Women’s Health Fair from a flyer and took the initiative to join in.
“I think it’s fantastic that these organizations are coming out to spread information and awareness about the issues specific to women’s health that are maybe overlooked or not talked about enough,” she said. “It’s great to get everyone together in one place to do that.”
