THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 11, 1995 TAG: 9508090186
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
FROM APPEARANCES, IT didn't seem like a serious event.
Children giggled gleefully inside a hay-filled cart, pulled around the parking lot of Crestwood Middle School by a tractor.
Clowns painted little faces.
Farm animals lounged in cages under the shade of a large tent, trying to cope with the 90-degree-plus heat.
A red fire department robot, in the shape of a hydrant, cautioned awe-struck little ones about the importance of fire safety.
A children's band performed nursery rhyme tunes inside the cafeteria.
The carnival-like atmosphere helped distract kids from the serious business going on at the middle school Saturday.
It was Chesapeake's first annual CARE Fair, short for Children's Assistance and Resource Event.
More than 100 volunteers spent 10 hours giving kids free shots and physical examinations, screening them for dental, vision, hearing and speech problems and handing out useful information to parents, such as how to apply for welfare or the school system's free and reduced-price lunch programs.
The idea was to help improve children's health, which should make them better prepared to enter school this fall or in future years.
By mid-afternoon, nearly 300 families had been served. Organizers said the turnout indicated a community need for the fair.
``People were lined up when we opened in the morning,'' said Tom Cupitt, the school system's spokesman and a member of the CARE Fair committee.
``I think, with the people who've shown up so far, we've definitely hit a nerve,'' he said. ``People do appreciate the services.''
The fair, modeled after a similar event in Tucson, Ariz., was unusual for Chesapeake because it was the first time city agencies such as the school system and the Health Department had worked together to offer all their services on one day in one place for families' convenience.
Generally, if parents want to get free services for their children, they must travel to various agencies throughout the city. If parents don't have the time or transportation, or they don't know what's available, sometimes children do without.
CARE Fair organizers believe it's the only event of its kind in the state.
Patricia M. Reid, 38, said she got everything she needed for her 3-year-old son at the fair in just under two hours.
``I thought it was great,'' she said. ``If you needed help with anything - physicals, dental, anything - they would provide it for you free of charge. It was definitely worth it.''
Organizers didn't know whether they could pull it off.
Getting all the agencies together and recruiting parents to attend were daunting tasks. On top of it all, they were working on a shoestring budget. Volunteers and local businesses had to be recruited to donate time, money and supplies.
The community came through. Volunteers rushed to sign on. Medical professionals worked all day for free. And businesses donated everything needed, from medical supplies to T-shirts for volunteers.
The fair even had a helping hand from a group of first-class petty officers from the dock landing ship Gunston Hall, assigned to Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk.
``The commanding officer likes to see the petty officers' association get involved in the community,'' said Petty Officer 1st Class Frederick Ballentine, 34.
City Councilman John M. de Triquet, a doctor who volunteered to give kids physicals at the fair, called the event a resounding success.
``Number 1, it has made the people of Chesapeake who organized this realize that it can be done,'' he said. ``And Number 2, I think it has contacted and touched in a very real way the children of Chesapeake and has improved the quality of their lives.''
The councilman said he saw many children who, if left untreated, could have developed serious illnesses. Kids who needed follow-up work were referred to the Health Department or to specialists in the area who accept Medicaid.
``We did not send any child out of here saying, `There's nothing we can do,' '' de Triquet said. ``We'll get what needs to be done done.
``The parents were very appreciative of this. They understand the effort.''
Most of the people who came out for the CARE Fair availed themselves of the free health services. Other services, such as the voter registration table set up outside the cafeteria, were less well-attended.
Fair organizers did their best to get the word out to the community about the event and all of the things it offered. They posted notices in churches and storefronts and advertised in the newspaper.
Health Department Director Nancy Welch said, in the future, advertising would focus on some of the other important services offered at the fair.
Cupitt said he expected that, as the word gets out about the annual fair, more people will attend.
``I think it definitely has encouraged all of us for next year,'' Welch said. ILLUSTRATION: ON THE COVER
Color photo
Jason Alan Edwards is fingerprinted by police officer R. L. Priest
as part of the CARE Fair services. In the background is Jason's
mother, Sharon Edwards in a photo by Gary C. Knapp.
Photos by GARY C. KNAPP
Robin Belton holds her daughter, Brittany Munden, while Virginia
Stone of Chesapeake General Hospital gives her a shot.
Mayor Bill Ward was one of the guest speakers at the CARE Fair at
Crestwood Middle School.
More than 300 families were served at the first CARE Fair.
Allison Hudgins, a dental student at Old Dominion University,
examines the teeth of Dante Walker.
by CNB