The Sparkman Civic Center welcomed about 40 vendors and hundreds of seniors citizens for the seventh annual Hartselle Health Fair July 12. 

The health fair offered seniors opportunities to connect with various healthcare providers and facilities throughout the state as well as to connect with different services or volunteer agencies in Morgan County. 

Cissy Pearson was one of the people who helped organize the event with NARCOG, and she said it has been beneficial to senior citizens throughout Morgan County. “We hope they leave today having had fun – first and foremost that they have had fun – but also that they have learned something about one of the companies or programs or services they didn’t know existed before,” Pearson said. 

Kelly McIntyre, admissions director with the Cottages, also helped organize the annual event. “We just bring together all the resources for the community to be there for the seniors,” she said. “We have all eight senior centers throughout Morgan County here so they can get the resources they need for whatever might be going on through their lives.” 

The event was 50s sock hop-themed and featured themed booths, root beer floats, free health screenings and more. Pearson said the fair allows the senior citizens to not only connect with resources for their health but opportunities to serve their community as well. 

McIntyre said the event this year was one of the largest yet. “It actually started out a whole lot smaller than it is right now. I have been part of it for the past four years, and it has steadily grown every year,” McIntyre said. 

The money raised through the health fair benefits the senior centers in Morgan County, to “provide them with some things they wouldn’t otherwise have,” Pearson said. She said the items range from rugs to additional board games to fax machines. “Whatever their need is for their center, we can help them. We are trying to meet that need through the proceeds from the event.” 

McIntyre said the fair welcomed additional sponsors this year than in years past. “We just want to say a big thank you to our sponsors,” she said. “They are what made this possible.”