Feature
July
15
Coastal Care Fair
by Lauren Bordelon
After the recent events in the Gulf of Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana founded the Our Home, Louisiana Coalition to serve the parishes and communities affected by the BP oil spill. This coalition serves to provide information for the bettering of the mental and physical well-being of coastal Louisiana residents of all ages.
As part of the first phase of the coalition’s mission, Our Home, Louisiana is providing 12 Coastal Care Fairs in public spaces in the affected communities.
Fairs have taken place in Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Terrebonne, St. Bernard and St. Mary parishes. Schools and libraries have provided the space and facilities for the fairs, giving communities’ members a free public place to gather and gain valuable information on a number of topics.
The fairs provide activities, information and assistance to families and individuals of all ages. At recent Coastal Care Fairs, the Tulane Medical Center Mobile Health Unit offered all in attendance free health screenings and referrals. Second Harvest Food Bank and local Catholic Charities provided attendees information on registering for services they provide, and LaCHIP was present to give parents information on insuring children. Local government and other such agencies were on hand to give residents tips and information on hurricane preparedness.
Radio Disney has joined forces with the Our Home, Louisiana Coalition to provide children with a two-hour interactive program filled with music, dancing, games and prizes. The purpose is to give children an outlet to take their minds off the stress they may feel as their parents suffer through worry of or even complete loss of business, work and livelihoods. The program is both physically and mentally helpful to children, providing tips on physical fitness and exercise, as well as confidence-boosting support and advice for their appropriate age groups.
Two more Coastal Care Fairs are scheduled to take place in south Louisiana. The first will take place at the East Houma Library of the Terrebonne Parish Library System on July 27, 2010. The library is located at 778 Grand Caillou Road, Houma. The program will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 3 p.m., with the children’s Disney program taking place at 10 a.m. The second will take place at the Boothville-Venice Elementary School located at #1 Oiler Drive, Boothville.
The fair will be held Friday, July 30, beginning at 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
