Sacred Heart provides healthy options

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Posted April 3, 2003

With a desire to promote healthy living, the second annual Sacred Heart Health Fair is set for April 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart School Hall in Sioux City.

This event is being presented by the parish nurses at Sacred Heart. Debbie McCalla and Debbie Bond are coordinating the event. The two are both registered nurses in Sioux City.

"We will have several different representatives from different community organizations," said McCalla. "We are going to have someone from the Iowa Donor Network, Hospice of Siouxland, a breast cancer survivor who is also a volunteer for the Cancer Center and other organizations."

There will be the opportunity for people to have their blood pressure taken. People will also be able to sign-up to be an organ donor with the Iowa Donor Network regardless of what state they live in.

"Hospice of Siouxland will have cards and sign-up available for people who wish to make any statements about what they would like done at the time that they die," said McCalla. "Advance directives is the formal term for this."

Last year, the health fair drew about 200 people that came to receive information. Those who attend will be given pamphlets and the opportunity to learn about living a healthy life.

"Part of what parish nurses do is to help the community become more aware of services that are available to them," said McCalla. "In having a health fair, we can do that in a more efficient manner by having it all in one place at one time. Many of these organizations, although many people know that they are out there, people may never have an opportunity to learn more about what services the different organizations provide."

Along with the health fair, a parish dinner will be held at the same time. The dinner will run from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. A craft fair and bake sale will also be presented to the community at the time of the dinner.