The Day for Children committee is looking for motivated NSU students to volunteer for the upcoming A Day for Children 2018 health fair. The event will be hosted on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale campus on Sunday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The health fair is in its sixteenth year of promoting the health of children in Broward county.
The annual event provides free health screenings for children 17 and younger. The health services are provided by NSU’s Healthcare Centers. Some of the crucial services available include vision, speech, nursing and dental.
“A Day for Children is completely free for all attenders and volunteers,” said Serina Shepherd, a student manager for A Day for Children. “It draws so many different cultures near to NSU’s main campus all to appreciate children. All types of vendors from across Florida come to this event all to spread the awareness of children’s health, the activities children can become involved in, and even to just paint their faces for no charge because we all know children love having a cute little bear face!”
Several volunteers are needed to help the 15,000 Broward county residents expected to attend. Student volunteers will not be assisting in the health screenings but insuring the efficiency and overall success of the event. There are three shifts that include set up, assisting the vendors and cleaning up at the end of the event.
The event will also provide fun activities for the families in attendance. Storybook characters, bounce houses and face painting will be on site. Sports, games and arts and crafts will inspire creativity and get kids moving. Members of the Miami Dolphins may even make guest appearances.
One of the crowd favorites at the event is the teddy bear clinic, which hopes to return this year and help eliminate a fear of doctors. “[The teddy bear clinic] It’s kind of like when you want a child to do something, you would get their favorite stuffed animal and let them go through it first or let their older sibling go through it first to show them it’s not so bad,” said Abigail Acceus, a student manager for A Day for Children. “We introduce them to the concept of doctors, so they don’t think that doctor means bad or the doctor means you should be scared.”
The event provides student volunteers with the chance to give back to the community. The experience can also be added to their resume and serve as a networking event with the vendors in attendance. Students can sign up to volunteer on OrgSync by Oct. 15, but the shifts are filling up quickly. Volunteers are also welcome to participate in the festivities at the end of their shifts.
“It is basically promoting and showing support for these children, their families, and allowing them to get the care they need,” said Nada Belal, a student manager for A Day for Children. “Healthcare isn’t cheap, so being able to give them a day where they don’t have to worry about money, or any of those stresses. They can just go out, kids can play, be themselves, and parents can just enjoy watching their children having fun and getting the assessments they need. Things like that give them a stress free, money free day, where they can be [themselves] and be children.”
