St. Marks Villa-Health Screening Fair

Built in 1992, St. Mark's Villa an elderly property located in Jackson, MS, hosted its first Health Screening Fair on June 27, 2009. This first-time community outreach event held at St. Marks Villa Apartments hosted over 150 people, including the residents, their family members and residents from the community.

The Health Screening Fair was sponsored by the Jackson Medical Mall Services, St. Marks Episcopal Housing Development Corporation (ownership) and Skyline Real Estate Company (management company).

Outreach efforts started several weeks prior to the event utilizing not only local radio and news stations but also two of our local newspapers: The Clarion Ledger and the Jackson Advocate. During this event, sponsors provided free food and drinks; a space jump for the children; medical screening; and several prevention programs such as:

1. Community Outreach for Health Awareness (COHA) sponsored- blood pressure screening
2. Jackson Medical Mall Services sponsored- Body Mass Index, Glucose, Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STD) and Family Planning awareness/prevention
3. Crisis Pregnancy Center Program
4. Belhaven Inspire Program
5. AFLAC Insurance
6. Cool Smiles Dentistry

A special invitation was extended to the local HUD and Performance Based Contract Administrator (PBCA) offices.

Special guest attending the Health Fair were as follows:

Mrs. Ruth Shirley, President of Board, St. Marks Villa Episcopal Housing Dev. Corp.

Mrs. Jean Hinton, Skyline Real Estate Company

Mrs. Tracey Ashley, Skyline Real Estate Company

Ms. Patricia Richmond, Area Manager, Skyline Real Estate Company

Ms. Denise Terry, Outreach Coordinator, Jackson Medical Mall Services

Doctor Aaron Shirley, Founder, Jackson Medical Mall Services

Mrs. Jennie Chambers-Jones, HUD Project Manager

Mr. Charles Wade-Relationship Manager-Jefferson County Assisted Housing Corporation (PBCA)

After having such a successful event, the sponsors have decided to make this an annual event to be held at St. Marks Villa Apartments as they continue their ongoing community outreach efforts.