By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
More than 50 local entities, agencies and businesses are set to take part in the first annual Community Fair sponsored by the Ellis County Health Department Saturday at Big Creek Crossing in Hays.
The idea for the fair came from a realization by health department officials that there is a need in the community to spread the word about all of the services that are offered in Ellis County. Ellis County Health Director Kim Reel said the fair is a way of reintroducing businesses to the community.
“Now that we are post-COVID, we realized that there are some agencies within our community that maybe other members of the community are not aware of the services that they provide,” Reel said.
There are 57 different businesses and programs that will be on hand Saturday at the event ranging from senior care living to small business owners, to health care facilities.
Health Department Administrative Assistant Brittany Thomas said the goal of the fair is to spread awareness about the resources that are offered in Ellis County.
“We want everybody to know what the resources are in our community. We're not self-limiting to just us and or even just health care. We want people to know exactly what's out there,” Thomas said. “There's been a lot of businesses that were affected by COVID, and so just knowing that the places are still open and available.”
Thomas said it’s not just about health care. Examples she gave were the Gamers Guild, which will have a booth and Hays Recreation Commission also will be set up to provide information on the activities it offers.
“We think that's part of the mental health aspect too, being able to go out and do something you love just getting out,” Thomas said. “Everything ties into public health, even if it's mental health and whatever you're doing out outside of your normal eight-to-five job.”
You can find a complete list of businesses and organizations that will be a part of Saturday’s event at the end of this story.
Reel said she thinks there is a misunderstanding of what some of the organizations have to offer.
“There are a number of resources available within our community, from Options to dealing with domestic violence, which has been unfortunately, we've seen an increase because of COVID,” Reel said. “To our EMS where they can provide CPR [classes] to your business, or they have classes that they offer to a small business that maybe wants to get something started because they want to start a family of their own and they're actually starting a business to stay at home with their kids to provide an income.”
Saturday also marks the annual Downtown Hays Development Corp. Bazaar on the Bricks event in downtown Hays, and Reel said she hopes people will attend the event downtown and then come to the mall and view everything the businesses and organizations have to offer.
She said the organizers' goal is to help people invest in the Hays and Ellis County communities.
“We just want to see people just invest here within our community, whether you're shopping, see what we have to offer in Hays before you shop online at Amazon, because of the convenience,” Reel said.
During the event, the health department also will provide back-to-school physicals and immunizations. The event is partnering with the Fort Hays State Sigma, Nu Zeta Chapter to offer blood pressure screenings. A link to the physical forms is available on the Ellis County Health Department website. Interested parties can sign up or they are also taking walkups for both physicals and the blood pressure checks.
Saturday’s event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside Big Creek Crossing. They will be set up in the old Hallmark location with booths spread throughout the mall. Food trucks will be in the mall parking lot.
The event also will have a couple of drawings available that day for both kids and adults. There also will be a chance to sign up for the Eagle Radio Keystone Light UTV Giveaway made possible by A&A Coors and Advantage Glass Plus.
More information on the event can be found on the Ellis County Health Department Facebook page and website or by calling the health department.
Editors note: Hays Post is owned and operated by Eagle Radio.