Over a year in planning, the cooperation of over 40 different agencies came together with one woman’s idea to spread awareness and education to students on health and welfare.

Carmella Henderson, Cosumnes River College peer health educator, is that woman and the host of the CRC Fall 2012 Health Resource Fair held at the east quad on the afternoon of Sept. 13.

Henderson started planning the event with the CRC Health Services and local community after a successful Fall 2011 Disability Awareness Week. The event aspired her to continue to have health and welfare events every year to make it easy for students to obtain resources and information.

Some of the agencies present were Blood Source, The Women’s Health Specialist, Planned Parenthood, Health Net, The Arc, Focus Healthcare, HIV Health Services Planning Council, CRC Veterans Resource Center and Students in Free Enterprise.

One main agency that received a lot of participation was the Blood Source blood drive.

Blood Source had 221 registrations and out of those 51 were first-time donors. Because of the participation 164 pints of blood were donated from students and the local community.

Ashley Parker, a 19-year-old student majoring in medical assisting, was one of those donors who braved last Thursday’s hot afternoon to donate. Parker said the health fair was very educational and urges other students to take advantage of the awareness and different opportunities.

In addition to the health agencies there were volunteer agencies.

The Special Olympics booth ran by Special Olympics athlete Jonathan Sparks received a lot of attention from students.

Sparks goal was to educate students on the various opportunities to volunteer to work with the handicapped and other Special Olympics projects and the true meaning of volunteering.

“Volunteering is so important for people to do and to feel that good feeling after helping,” said Sparks.

All in all, the health fair was deemed a success from the students, faculty and the CRC Health Services.

“I want to say thank you to the CRC students, local community and agencies that came out in support of this event. Thank you to all the blood donors for your help in raising over 160 pints of blood,” Henderson said. “I hope to see the same turn out at the next event.”