Every year, the Westport Area Business Association and the Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) Westport Clinic partner to present the annual Westport Health and Business Expo.
This year, approximately 300 individuals attended the twelfth annual Westport Health and Business Expo which was held on October 27th at the Westport Community Building. Many opportunities were available for guests: health screenings, flu vaccines, local vendor booths, bounce house and lunch, all free of charge.
Each attendee received a free DCMH bag to carry their expo goodies in, along with a trick or treat candy bag for the children. Tables were set up all around the main room in the community building and each table featured a different business, organization or vendor. There were over 30 different booths that attendees could visit, many of which had free favors for guests, along with candy for the trick or treaters. Several door prizes were given throughout the event as well.
Upon entering, guests were given a lunch card to have initialed by the vendors. Once the spaces on the card were filled, the guest was entitled to a free lunch. The lunch consisted of a Jimmy John’s sandwich, chips, apple and water. The free lunch was served by members of the Westport Kiwanis Club, who graciously volunteered their time to assist at the expo.
Amy Shearer, Marketing and Communications Manager for DCMH, Mary Angle, Marketing Coordinator, and Dennis Fogle, DCMH Community Relations organized the Westport Health and Business Expo this year and are thrilled with the turnout the event saw. Rex McKinney, President and CEO of DCMH, also attended and spoke with many of the vendors and attendees.
“It is a pleasure to see such great community and business involvement in the Westport Health & Business Expo,” McKinney said. “Our goal at DCMH is to partner with the community, businesses and individuals to ensure health and wellness needs are met. We are pleased to have such committed partners as the Westport community.”
While visiting the booths, guests had the opportunity of receiving numerous free health screenings. Attendees could choose from blood pressure, cancer risk assessment, cholesterol and vision. In addition, Nurse Practitioner Emily McNulty for the Westport Clinic, was present speaking with community members and answering questions pertaining to her services.
In addition, DCMH staff gave out 160 free flu vaccines to attendees and their families.
Along with the Health Fair, children were able to participate in a costume contest. All winners received goodie bags and recognition. Sponsors for the contests were Nipro Pharma Packaging and Watkins Hydra Steam, both of Westport.
Many DCMH employees volunteered their time to help at the expo by staffing tables or filling in where needed. Shearer said she was grateful for their assistance and delighted with the outcome of the event. She also credited the vendors and members of the business association for their participation and extended her thanks to them.
“We had a great turnout for the event, despite the cold, rainy weather,” Shearer said. “We are thankful to everyone who helped- from the vendors and hospital employees to the business association members and everyone who came out. This event was a huge success do to their time and efforts and we certainly could not have had such a successful event without each one of them.”