Severe thunderstorms failed to put a damper on the festivities at Peekskill's health fair and fish fry Thursday evening. The event was sponsored by Peekskill Agencies Together, or P.A.T., a community coalition aimed at reducing youth substance abuse, and was held at the Youth Bureau on Main Street.
About 20 vendors were on hand to give out health information and services to residents such as eye exams and cholesterol checks, and a DJ provided music for the evening.
The event also featured free helpings of fried fish, which isnt as counterproductive as it might seem, according to Youth Bureau Director Valerie Swan. Were using a healthy oil, so were giving out information because there are certain oils that people should use and certain oils they shouldnt use, Swan said.
Were serving salad and wheat bread as opposed to white bread, and lots of water. Also on hand was a nutritionist from the food bank run out of the Kiley Center. The program distributes fresh fruits and vegetables to area residents monthly.
PAT distributes about 6,000 pounds of food a month at the rapid food distribution, Swan said. We were going to do that today but we realized it would be too much so well do it next Thursday. One of those invited was Charles McKenley of Childrens Village, who brought a bus to the event.
His organization visits communities in Westchester County to talk to youth ages 12 to 22 about positive decision making, STDs, HIV, and other issues facing youth.Their website is www.childrensvillage.org. The organization also runs a runaway shelter called the sanctuary located in the county, McKenley said. Kids who are having problems at home and feel like running away, it is a great place for them to go, McKenley said. The other piece that we do is for kids 18-22 we have a transition living program for kids who are homeless."
Young adults can stay in the program up to 18 months without paying bills but they must be going to school and they must have a job, and whatever they save after 18 months the program matches it so they can afford an apartment, McKenley said.
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