Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder and family get a lesson in the art of face painting from STARS founder Frances Scarantino. L to R: Esther, 2-year-old Ascher, Phillip, and 4-year-old Eliana Goldfeder. Patricia Adams/The Forum Newsgroup
Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder hosted a Community Health Fair in the schoolyard at P.S. 232 last Sunday afternoon between 1 and 5 p.m. A group of sponsors staffed tables to speak with residents on a number of health and safety topics, as well as to provide free services including blood pressure screening, blood glucose testing and nutritional counseling.
Just to prove parenthood agrees with politics, Councilman Eric Ulrich brought daughter Lily along to have a free blood pressure screening, provided by Medysis. His fans will be happy to know the councilman has textbook blood pressure—110/70.
Among the event sponsors were the Lindenwood Alliance, NYFAC, Rite Aid, Resorts World, S.T.A.R.S., Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, American Red Cross, Nutrish Mish, Empressive Herbs, NY Blood Center and Starbucks. Also on hand were members of the NYPD, FDNY, West Hamilton Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Corps, Law Firm of Brady and Marshak and Rite Aid Drugs.
There were family-oriented giveaways as well as face painting for the kids who also had the chance to climb aboard and check-out the inside of the West Hamilton ambulance.
While residents enjoyed the great weather and good music in the schoolyard, still others found themselves in the gym, waiting patiently to donate blood. Flu shots were also administered inside the school.
As the father of two young children, Assemblyman Goldfeder says he knows how important it is to be responsible for your children’s health. “We have an obligation to keep them healthy,” Goldfeder said, “and we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves so we can care for them.”
And Goldfeder says keeping the community aware of all of their options and bringing a group of resources to the same place is something he intends to make this an annual event.
The blood drive was set up in the gym of the school and saw a constant stream of donors throughout the event.
