Rhonda Miska
Hispanic Ministry Coordinator
Church of the Incarnation
rhonda@incarnationparish.org

Photo: Help Fair (October 2005)


On Saturday, October 15, 2005, between 10 am and 2 pm, an estimated 175 Hispanics from our area attended a Help Fair - Feria de Ayuda at the Church of the Incarnation. Twenty seven service providers - promoting health, housing, education, transportation, and community development issues - participated by operating information tables or offering medical consultations.

The goal of the day was to connect local Latinos/Hispanics with service providers. Those attending the fair went from table to table to learn about resources and services and how to access them, making face-to-face connections with Spanish-speaking individuals from each of the participating agencies.

Also available were educational sessions on health, free HIV and blood pressure testing, and the mobile clinic from the Rural Health Outreach Program.

To make it a fun, family-friendly event, there was plenty of food and beverages as well as Latin American folk dance performances and raffles.

Several of the service providers said it was one of most enjoyable and successful events of its kind that they have attended, and many Latinos/Hispanics reported that they learned valuable information and made connections that have been useful to them and their families.

We are planning to hold a similar event in autumn of 2006; if you are interested in participating or helping to plan, please contact Rhonda Miska, Incarnation's Hispanic Ministry Coordinator at rhonda@incarnationparish.org

HELP FAIR PARTICIPANTS

1) Community Bikes
2) Shelter for Help in Emergencies
3) Sexual Assault Resource Agency
4) Cville Dept of Social Services
5) Nuevas Raices
6) Zona Latina
7) Cville Transit Service
8) Hope Incorporated
9) Region Ten
10) Albemarle County Housing
11) Albemarle County Social Services
12) Albemarle County Police
13) Body Balancing Center
14) Children, Youth and Family Services
15) International Family Medicine Clinic
16) Cville Free Clinic
17) UVA Health System Community Relations
18) Legal Aid Justice Center
19) HIV/AIDS Service Group
20 The Parent Center
21) Piedmont Housing Alliance
22) Social Security Administration
23) Habitat for Humanity
24) International Rescue Committee
25) Rural Health Outreach Program
26) State Farm Insurance
27) Church of the Incarnation