BELLE FOURCHE—An opportunity for the community to not only learn about wellness, but visit with providers and check vitals and labs was offered at the 12th Annual Wellness Fair and Marketplace at the Belle Fourche Rec Center on April 18.
A few changes were made this year to diversify the offerings a little bit and try to get a larger turnout. A Marketplace was added to the Wellness Fair. “The Wellness Fair, obviously, was focused more on health and wellness-related stuff. And so this year we have added a few more vendors with artisan-type people in here with pottery and woodworking and baby clothes and beadwork and some of those extra things,” explained Tessa Anderson-Voyles, Program Coordinator.
Another change for this year’s Wellness Fair was to expand the time. “We started an hour later, so we started at nine and we’re going until three, so we’re also staying open a couple hours longer, thinking with the marketplace added in this year that gives people time to come in and shop around,” said Anderson-Voyles.
For those who showed up to explore the Wellness Fair and Marketplace, they were greeted with 42 vendor booths. “That is up by about a dozen and turnout’s been good! The vendors all seem real happy as I’ve been walking around,” shared Anderson-Voyles.
The scheduled Vitalant Blood Donation Blood Drive had to be canceled because they had some sick employees and not enough extra staffing to bring that to the Wellness Fair this year.
But there was still so much to see and do! Monument Health offered discounted wellness labs. They took blood draws right on site. They also checked blood pressure and blood oxygen levels.
There were many activities for kids to do. A Fitness Zone was set up at the entrance of the Wellness Fair. It had kid-sized gym equipment. There were healthy snacks and coloring pages as well as face painting offered by Belle Fourche High School cheerleaders, who are fundraising for their Macy’s Day Parade trip.
The Belle Fourche Rec Center table encouraged kids to sign up for their Kids Track & Field Program, Girls Softball Clinic and Summer Youth Strength Training Classes.
The first 50 people through the door to the Wellness Fair and Marketplace received a one-day pass to enjoy the Rec Center. A variety of door prizes were given away during the day, including shopper bags, pickleball paddle set, Mickelson Trail registration, Wild Magnolia gift cards and healthy snacks.
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