MARQUETTE — Marquette County residents are invited to join Upper Peninsula Health Plan and Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions for the first-ever Marquette County Community Resource Fair from noon to 4 p.m. Friday at Lakeview Arena.

Free and open to the public, the fair will connect residents directly with local organizations that are available to assist and support their day-to-day social needs. Event attendees will be able to receive onsite navigation assistance, in addition to becoming more aware of the resources available to them in our communities.

With more than 50 community-based organizations committed to participate, attendees will have the opportunity to get connected with: housing assistance, food assistance programs, health care services, utility assistance, senior services, transportation services, children’s services, mental health services, women’s services and employment services.

The event will also offer several free services and items such as haircuts, dental screenings, rapid HIV testing, bike helmets, bike raffles, backpacks filled with essential items, the Feeding America mobile food truck and boxed lunches.

Another goal of the event is to improve coordination between primary health and social service providers/organizations, allowing them to work collectively to address the social determinants of health — like employment and work conditions, physical environment and education — that have a negative impact on health outcomes for many members of the community.