EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE SUPPORTED FREE HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN

East County News Service

November 8, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The Heartland Foundation, publishers of East County Magazine, an award-winning community publication, recently served as a media partner of the 2016 Kids Care Fest, which featured free health care screenings for children on Nov. 5 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds.

The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County, presented Kids Care Fest. An estimated 650 children received free health care screenings at the 15th annual event.

Health care screenings at 2016 Kids Care Fest included vision and dental screenings, as well as children’s wellness checkups. The event also featured information from dermatologists, pharmacists and other medical professionals, along with free kids fingerprinting and free flu shots. Additional free activities included rock climbing, inflatable obstacle course and pony rides, along with demonstrations and displays from law enforcement, including police and fire officials. Also available were free children’s reading books.

Healthcare partners supporting 2016 Kids Care Fest included Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Rady Children’s Hospital, Borrego Community Health Foundation, University of California at San Diego Eye Mobile for Children, La Maestra Community Health Centers, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Champions for Health, Neighborhood Healthcare and the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency’s East Region El Cajon Family Resource Center.

Community partners supporting 2016 Kids Care Fest included El Capitan Stadium Association, Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club of Lakeside, Lakeside Union School District and Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club.

The Grossmont Healthcare District was formed in 1952 to build and operate Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa. GHD serves as landlord for the hospital property and buildings on behalf of East County taxpayers. The District is governed by a five-member board of directors, each elected to four-year terms, who represent more than 500,000 people residing within the District’s 750 square miles in San Diego’s East County. For more information, visit www.grossmonthealthcare.org.