MARQUETTE — The 7th annual Marquette County Community Resource Fair is approaching, with over 80 local community organizations offering on-site assistance with free or reduced services.

Hosted by Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions and Upper Peninsula Health Plan, the resource fair will be taking place from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, connecting community members with a variety of services, including educational seminars, free haircuts, blood pressure checks, immunizations, screenings for dental and vision care, and resources for veterans, food, housing, utilities, transportation, families, children, and healthcare, to name a few.

State data has highlighted concerns in the region regarding social determinants of health – which include non-healthcare related factors such as education, housing security, employment status, and physical environment – that are contributing to poor health outcomes. The UPHCS’s goal is to empower residents in their health journeys by providing as many resources as possible in one location for one day, strengthening the connection between resources and residents.

“When we think about things medically, say somebody has diabetes or a behavioral health condition or substance use disorder, we’re thinking, ‘Okay, what medication? What is their blood pressure? What is their sugar level or (hemoglobin) A1C?’ And from a medical perspective, providers or lay people are thinking, ‘Well, just eat better’ or ‘Just remember to take your insulin’ or ‘Just get to your doctor’s appointments and things will be better,” explained Katrina Keough, Assistant Director at UPHCS. “But there’s real life happening where someone who is newly retired or on Social Security and has a new diagnosis of type two diabetes, (and) their income constraints, perhaps. So, for them to buy healthy foods to manage their diet, to manage their fluctuating blood sugars, (can) feel nearly impossible.”

The resource fair is the collaborative effort of community organizations providing information, free or reduced services, and opportunities for the public to connect with people who are able to meet their needs in holistic, encompassing ways. There are also opportunities to receive this kind of care outside of the resource fair, even if you’re unable to attend.

“We have really developed this partnership with (the) Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress. One of their programs is the regional 211 call center so they employ peer navigators. They’ll get a provider office that says ‘Hey, I have a patient, their rent is due, they can’t pay it, can you help them?’ and then that peer navigator will call the patient (to) try and find some resources and then give them the phone numbers for the organizations that would fit the best,” said Keough. “Then, (they) and find out from there if those organizations were able to meet their needs. We’re working with them again to track that process and refine it so that we can study what gaps might exist in some of these working sources so that we can let the state of Michigan know, (and) our partners at UPHP so that we can all fill in the gaps together.”

The Salvation Army of Marquette will sponsor and cook a free community meal at the fair, and the Secretary of State Mobile Office will be available for services such as obtaining or renewing driver’s licenses and Michigan IDs, transferring vehicle titles, and more.

Two educational food seminars, one offered by the Michigan State University Extension and the other by the Marquette Food Co-op, will also be available, teaching attendees about incorporating healthy and affordable foods into their diets.

Keough also took the time to acknowledge the sponsors and organizations that have come to offer their assistance for the event, as it wouldn’t be possible without a community effort.

“I definitely want to acknowledge them because it would not be successful without them. We have family fun prize basket(s), food seminars that are being done where those organizations are donating all of the food and, of course, their time to try and help people…” Keough expressed.

The sponsors for the event are the Salvation Army of Marquette, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Getz’s, WLUC-TV6, Big Boy Restaurant, U.P. Health Systems Bell and Marquette, The Man Cave, the MSU Extension and the Marquette Food Co-op.

The event will take place inside the Lakeview Arena, located at 401 E. Fair Ave., and it is free to attend. There will also be opportunities to win prizes such as bikes, outdoor and sports equipment, gift cards and gift baskets. As attendees learn about services at different booths, there will be cards for vendors to sign as attendees visit, and visitors can use this card as a ticket to enter for the raffle prizes. Signage and volunteers will also be available for assistance.

For those who cannot attend the resource fair, UPHCS will compile a list of organizations and contacts on their website in the future. You can visit its website at uphcs.org.

UPHCS is still seeking donations from area organizations of toiletries and health items or monetary funds to purchase them. If you are interested in donating or being a part of the resource fair, contact UPHCS at info@uphcs.org.

Visit UPHCS’s active Facebook page for updates on the resource fair and other events and initiatives.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.