SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A free vision screening, flu shots and a chance to learn more about being healthy were offered at the Healthy Schuylkill Haven Health Fair on Saturday in Schuylkill Haven.
"We're having a great time," said Victoria Conner, 41, of Orwigsburg, while her daughter, Vivian Conner, 9, had her eyes checked.
"It almost looks just like a camera," Stacy Meredith, health service specialist with Child Development, Pottsville, said about the machine used for the eye test.
Meredith and her son, Kasmer, 8, also had their eyes checked.
"Bad eyes run in the family," she said.
The vision screening was one of many activities offered from 2 to 5 p.m. at the neighborhood center, 340 Haven St.
The event was sponsored by the Healthy Schuylkill Communities Coalition and was held in response to a 2011 survey about the county's health. Obesity and exercise were concerns in the county, the study showed.
The event is the kick-off for a yearlong effort to improve the health of borough residents. In all, 12 organizations and a group of five step dancers from Penn State Schuykill took steps to make people healthier.
Kay Jones, executive director of VISION, estimated that about 50 people attended the event.
At the Schuylkill County Immunization Coalition table, representatives discussed the importance of washing your hands.
Using something called "Glitter Bug Powder," children and adults could rub it on their hands and then Cece Boran, president of the organization, would use a black light to simulate where the "germs" were and how easily germs could pass from one person to another.
Boran said it was a "good teaching moment" about the importance of proper hand washing.
Also at the event, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries and Lutheran Home Care and Hospice Inc. gave out free flu shots.
Step dancers from Penn State Schuylkill promoting healthy activity through their dance routine.
Bernie Stasko, head athletic trainer for Schuylkill Rehabilitation Center, led a group of about 25 people in exercises and demonstrated the importance of warming up before exercise.
"As word spreads, I think it is going to keep getting bigger and better," Mayor Mike Devlin, an attendee, said of the event.
Jerry Bowman, borough council member, said the event may be a good way to start a pilot program for health.