More than 700 Children attend St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s 3rd Annual Back to School Fair

Far Rockaway, New York, August 7, 2019 — Children Received Free Health Screenings and School Supplies.

On Friday, August 2, more than 700 children packed Brookhaven Avenue in Far Rockaway and the parking lots of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital (SJEH) to attend the hospital’s third annual Back to School Fair. At the event, more than 100 children received free dental screenings; over 30 adults received blood pressure screenings; and more than 30 adolescent well visits (or annual physicals) were scheduled. The hospital also distributed backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and other school supplies to ensure that children are prepared for the upcoming school year.

“By providing health screenings and school supplies, we are helping to enhance the health and wellbeing of the families we serve in our surrounding communities,” said Jerry Walsh, Chief Executive Officer. “Studies indicate that there is a linkage between education and good health, and we want to set our community members on the path of leading a healthy lifestyle from a young age.”

In addition to the health screenings and school supplies, children were treated to face painting, basketball, video games, and a rock wall climb provided by the NYPD’s 101st Precinct. Of the more than 40 vendors who participated in the event were members of the FDNY who educated families on fire safety; the Queens Public Library; the health insurers Healthfirst and Wellcare; DentaQuest and HealthPlex who provided the dental screenings; and the New York State Department of Health.

“St. John’s has served the health care needs of the Rockaways for over 110 years…This is our community, and these are our community members,” said Renee Hastick-Motes, Vice President of External Affairs. “We want to do our part to help them be healthy. Plus, nothing warms the heart more than seeing the smiles on the faces of the children who were in attendance.”