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NCO: Strengthening Our Community

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The ever-popular Annual Free Children’s Health Fair, put on by UVMC and a coalition of community partners (including NCO), just wrapped up another successful health fair on October 6, 2013. Families from across the Ukiah valley came out with kids and bikes in tow. This fair is all about activity! Over 35 local medical and dental providers, service clubs, government agencies, and service organizations like North Coast Opportunities were at the fair, interacting with kids and parents. There was a bicycle safety course, a fire department smoke simulation house, gymnastics equipment, bowling, eye exams, diabetes testing, book give-aways, snack-making activities, a pedal-powered smoothie bike, construction of mini garden greenhouses, and more.

North Coast Opportunities was a special addition to the fair because our organization is involved in so many different projects, offering vital programs that strengthen our community. NCO’s Rural Communities Child Care had a booth at the fair staffed by Olivia Bromley, Barbara Redding and Jessie Nelson. They offered fun bug activities along with a bean bag and hoola hoop game. They also supplied many fun give-aways for all the children of different ages. NCO’s Head Start had a booth with apple taste testing and children’s nutrition information, staffed by Rick Travis, Natalie Mendez, Christina Burns, Anny Zinky, Ortencia Ramirez, and Virginia Rodriguez. NCO Community Action’s Gardens Project had a mini-greenhouse and seed-planting booth, staffed by HealthCorps service member Stephanie Logsdon and FoodCorps service member Keegan Niland. NCO Community Action’s Nutrition Basics Program partnered with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) to offer free pedal-powered smoothies, staffed by Tarney Sheldon and CCC members… and all these booths were busy! Over 400 people attended the fair!

It’s great to know that NCO is an important part of our community… a key resource for people throughout our region.