Backpacks & Boosters: A Community Health and Wellness Fair
On July 15, the “Backpacks & Boosters” Community Health and Wellness Fair— open to all and designed with accessibility for the disability community in mind—offered free immunizations, school supplies and other resources from 9 a.m. to noon at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Innovation Building.
The goal of Backpacks & Boosters was to increase access, particularly for the disability community, to immunizations, school supplies, hygiene kits and other important community resources as families head into the new school year. The fair was wheelchair accessible and fragrance-free and featured a sensory-friendly entrance to the vaccine clinic. American Sign Language and Spanish interpreters were also on hand.
Community members stopped to pose at the event’s photo booth.
Over 250 people attended over the three-hour span. More than 100 school and drawstring backpacks were handed out, as well as an abundance of school and hygiene supplies. Multiple people got COVID boosters, and many families learned more about their health through the free screenings thanks to a partnership with UArizona's Mobile Health Units.
Sonoran Center assistant director Jacy Farkas received a health screening.
Crowds of community members received free back-to-school supplies and interacted with community organizations.
Families participated in fun activities, including a designated coloring station, and enjoyed free summer treats provided by eegee’s.
UArizona student volunteers, along with Wilbur Wildcat, dished out free frozen treats courtesy of eegee’s.
Volunteers handed out free take-home COVID-19 tests.
Nearly 20 local community organizations participated as vendors, including the Autism Society of Southern Arizona, Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome, Sickle Cell Foundation of Arizona, First Things First and UArizona Center for Rural Health.
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The event was presented in collaboration by the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities along with two nonprofit organizations, the Arizona Center for Disability Law and the Direct Advocacy Resource Center.