The Superior Dome in Marquette is pictured. The Marquette County Resource Fair will be held at the location on Friday. (Journal file photo)

By ALEXANDRIA

BOURNONVILLE

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE–The Marquette County Resource Fair has a new home – the Superior Dome in Marquette.

Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions and Upper Peninsula Health Plan host the annual event, which will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Friday.

UPHCS is a nonprofit network of community health care providers working to improve access, reduce cost, and promote quality health care services in the community while UPHP services the Upper Peninsula through programs that include Michigan Medicaid, MIChild, Children with Special Health Care Services, Healthy Michigan Plan, MI Health Link and Medicare Advantage.

The fair is free and open to the public.

“It’s really like a one stop shop for community members to come and see all the different community based organizations that are available to them to offer resources…to improve their day-to-day life,” said marketing communications specialist Karly Billings.

The fair provides residents with resources for their daily health and social needs. More than 70 local community-based organizations will be present to aid people in getting health care, food and housing.

Furthermore, all attendees will be able to receive free dental screens, blood pressure checks and haircuts. Additionally, outdoor and athletic goods giveaways and raffles will be held.

Grocery assistance will be present as well. The Feeding America Mobile Food Truck will be on site to provide groceries to attendees from noon to 2 p.m.

To participate, park in Lot 55 behind the Dome and register at the table located between Lots 55 and 56.

The U.P. Regional Blood Center will be holding a community blood drive in the dome as well during the event.

“We are very excited to host the Marquette County Community Resource Fair again this year,” UPHP CEO Melissa Holmquist said. “Ensuring people have access to resources to improve their day-to-day lives plays an important role in UPHP’s vision of creating a healthy Upper Peninsula with people living their best lives. Our hope is that this event will help raise awareness of available resources so that together with our community members, our health care systems and the community-based organizations in the area, we can work on advancing the health and well-being of Upper Peninsula residents.”

The UPHCS and UPHP resource fair has been helping those in need for five years now. This year’s fair will be a “great opportunity for community members,” Billings said. “Given the rural nature of the Upper Peninsula, a lot of times things are spread out so it’s just a great opportunity to all be in the same room at once.”

Alexandria Bournonville can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 506. Her email address is abournonville@miningjournal.net.