08 Sep
by Derrick Vander Waal
SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – Promise Community Health Center shattered its record for the number of children who were provided health screenings during its seventh annual Back-to-School Block Party on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – Promise Community Health Center shattered its record for the number of children who were provided health screenings during its seventh annual Back-to-School Block Party on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
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| People stream into the front door and pack the front lobby of Promise Community Health Center as a record 184 student received health screenings during the Back-to-School Block Party on Aug. 17. |
The total of 184 easily topped the 126 children served in 2015 and 104 in 2014.
Along with the children who received screenings, many more people enjoyed the block party meal and activities outside of the health center in downtown Sioux Center.
The event celebrated National Health Center Week.
“We’re thrilled that so many families found this to be a valuable service again this year to get their children adequately prepared for school,” said Derrick Vander Waal, public relations and development coordinator for Promise. “Not only did students get required screening for school, but everyone had a great time at the block party.”
The 184 students received at least one of the four health services offered – with many of them receiving multiple services.
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| Sioux Center Public Library was one of several community organizations that provided interactive and educational activities during the Back-to-School Block Party at Promise CHC on Aug. 17. |
As a breakdown, 110 students – or 17 more than last year – received low-cost physicals. Eighty youth – double of last year’s total of 40 – were given free immunizations. No official numbers were available for the free dental and vision screenings, but an estimated 75 children were served with each of those services. The vision screenings were provided for the first time.
The children, their families and many others from the community also enjoyed block party activities in the parking area and alley behind the health center during the four-hour event. Promise CHC and several Sioux Center area organizations – Sioux Center Public Library, Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Seasons Center for Behavioral Health and Compass Pointe – offered interactive and educational games. KSOU Radio served a free hot dog meal. Cinema 5 Theatres provided free popcorn.
In addition, Sioux Center Health did car-seat safety checks – making adjustments to ensure the seats were safely secured in vehicles and replacing car seats no longer in good condition with new ones. Sioux Center School District personnel helped Spanish-speaking parents with school registrations. Dordt College volleyball players and Sioux Center High School students volunteered their time to help with the block party and the screenings.
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| A free hot dog meal was provided by KSOU Radio for the Back-to-School Block Party at Promise Community Health Center. |
Promise gave away more than 150 drawstring bags filled with school and hygiene supplies to students, thanks in large part to a $500 grant from the Walmart Foundation. Delta Dental of Iowa donated toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss for the bags.
Area political leaders visited and toured Promise during the block party: Iowa Sen. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull), Iowa Rep. John Kooiker (R-Boyden) and Skyler Wheeler of Orange City, Republican nominee for the Iowa House of Representatives. Jerry Self, regional director from the Sioux City office of U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), also took the time to visit.
Promise Community Health Center of Sioux Center is the only Federally Qualified Health Center serving the far northwest corner of Iowa. Promise provides medical, prenatal, dental, vision and behavioral health services. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org and watch this video.
TO SEE MORE PICTURES:
To get a better feel for what the event was like, check out the many photos on multiple posts on Promise Community Health Center’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PromiseCHC/.
