Residents take advantage of free North Hudson Community Action Corporation health fair

North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) held a free health fair on Saturday, August 9.

The event got underway at 10 a.m. at the organization’s main site at 5301 Broadway in West New York. The parking lot was turned into a one-stop shopping informational facility for residents looking to learn more about what medical, behavioral, dental and social services are available.

The fair was timed to coincide with National Health Center Week (August 3-9), which celebrates and recognizes the work that the centers perform across the nation.

Those who showed up were able to get free blood pressure and glucose screenings as well as eye exams.

NHCAC officials said the event is designed to raise awareness about the various services offered by the organization and its community partners.

“It’s very important to get the word out with all the uncertainty in our healthcare and health insurance,” said North Hudson Community Action Corporation Board of Directors Chair Giovanni Ahmad. “It’s very important for our residents and anyone in the community to understand what’s going on and what services we can provide for.”

“We invite the health HMOs to come and help the patients who don’t have insurance apply if they qualify,” said Gaetana Venezia, West New York’s site manager.

West New York resident Stephanie Montoya stopped by with her ten-year-old daughter Bethanie after hearing the music coming from the parking lot.

“I actually spoke with the community partners because I teach special ed at a high school and I work with the transition kids,” said Montoya. “When they turn 21 and exit out of the program their parents tell us they don’t really have any program to go to after, so that was a really big one for me.”

Montoya’s daughter Bethanie also received some free school supplies and got her face painted.

North Hudson Community Action Corporation currently has multiple locations in Hudson, Bergen and Passaic counties. In addition to accepting health insurance, the facilities offer free services and low-cost/sliding scale prices for those who cannot afford to pay. For more information, visit nhcac.org.