Second Annual Wellness Fair at Dwell Mobile
The Mercy Associates served at the Second Annual Wellness Fair at Dwell Mobile, a non-profit that provides post-resettlement acclimation services and support to refugee families who have relocated to Mobile, Alabama. The Wellness Fair included healthcare screenings and education. Congrats to Mary Kay Polys, for her extraordinary work in developing the health fair, organizing it for a second year and expanding it. Sr. Marilyn Graf joined us late after her meeting at the Alabama Arise Annual Meeting.
According to Mary Kay, “the attendance doubled last years’. The evaluations from participants were extremely positive. Some refuges were screened with health issues onsite and needed immediate follow-up. The Lions Club, a new participant, was busy handing out reading glasses and referring them to an optometrist for follow-up. The medical residents from Mobile Infirmary also first time participants, could not be more excited [Mary Kay Polys] screening for glucose, performing blood pressure checks and talking about colorectal cancer and breast cancer screening. The USA University Hospital pediatric doctors returned and were awesome. The pediatric medical students taught the kids Healthy Eating, safe use of social media, prevention of respiratory illness and oral care. USA Health Providence Hospital joined us for the first time. Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy and Love All Pantry returned for a second year. The Mercy Associates had a display on the Benefits of Exercise in English and Spanish and provided giveaways courtesy of John Butts. Carolyn Florkiewicz, a pre-associate and retired nurse, volunteered as a floater throughout the day. And the Original Oyster House provided branded Frisbees for the children and sponsored cheesy grits and blackened shrimp served up by Mercy Associates Cecilia Mace and Zippy Doll. What a wonderful day!”
Oyster House Booth: Pictured at the Oyster House booth, from left Carolyn Florkiewicz, Mary Kay Polys, Jeri Stroade, founder and director of Dwell Mobile, Cecilia Mace and Zippy Doll.
What is a Refuge: Pictured from left are Cecilia Mace, Sr. Marilyn Graf and Zippy Doll.
Coordinators of Dwell Mobile Health fair: Mary Kay Polys, Mercy Associate; Yajaria Miller, Dwell Mobile; Dr. Linda Hassouneh, USA Pediatrics and Dr. Latasha Williams, Mobile Infirmary Residency Program.