When a nutrition and health assessment of the children enrolled in our Mendota Head Start center showed that 45% of the students were overweight or at risk of being overweight, Head Start employees took action; they began planning and successfully executed the first ever Mendota Health Fair.

“We knew something needed to be done,” says Kathy Hix, Head Start Registered Nurse. “We were shocked at the numbers, but we were even more alarmed when we realized 25% of those cases were considered ‘extreme cases,” adds Hix. “Those students were immediately referred to meet with a registered dietitian.”

Earlier this month, Hix, alongside Head Start Nutrition Assistant Shana Burns, Head Start Nutrition Services Director Alita Taylor, and countless Head Start employees put on the Mendota Health Fair which focused on curbing childhood obesity and promoting healthier lifestyles for children and their families. Over 400 residents from the communities of Mendota, Firebaugh and Oro Loma participated in cooking demonstrations and empowerment workshops; received free children’s immunizations and free blood pressure, blood sugar, and dental screenings; and obtained free books. Mendota’s Mayor Pro Tem, Joseph Amador, served as the fair’s emcee. He energized the crowd and promoted physical activity by encouraging fair-goers to dance on stage.

The fair could not have been possible without various partners including Champions for Change / Central Valley Health Network, United Health Center Mendota, Mendota Family Health Clinic, Healthy Smiles, Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, the Mexican Consulate, Fresno County Library, Centerville Fruit Station, and Sysco Corporation, to name a few.