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Community Corner

Men's Health The Focus At Brandon Family Support Center Fair

Massage by Wes Bozeman, Fundacion Sana, South Florida Baptist Hospital and Lifestyle Family Fitness among those who turned out for event.

Ask most men and they will be able to tell you more about the condition of their car than their health. The Brandon Family Support Center, 1277 Kingsway Road, took a small step to correct that June 4 with its first Men’s Health Fair.

Free health screenings, complimentary massages and a $25 gift certificate to Walmart drew more than 20 visitors to the fair, the first of many to come, said Evelyn Toledo, a family support specialist at the center.

“We have had health fairs in the past but this is the first one that is focused on men. We hope it brings in more men to the center; lets them know we are here and what programs we offer.”

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Funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, the center offers a wide range of free programs for children, families and the unemployed. They run the gamut from free physicals and shots for children to free classes in Excel, Word PowerPoint – in English or Spanish.

“I think most men don’t really believe in preventative maintenance when it comes to their health,” said Adrian Villagomez, a general contractor who turned out for the health fair. “We tend to only go to the doctor or the hospital when it’s really needed so today was a good opportunity for me to take advantage of the services here at the center and it’s all for free.”

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Lew Blocker, a retiree with his own medical insurance heard about the health fair through the media. He encouraged those without insurance to take advantage of the services at the center. “It’s great for those who don’t have access to insurance.”

The center also has two free programs coming up for men: Movie Night with Dad from 6-8 p.m., June 16 and a Basic Automotive Workshop with hands-on learning from 6-8 p.m. July 28.

Among the groups who turned out for the health fair were: Massage by Wes Bozeman, Fundacion Sana, South Florida Baptist Hospital, Lifestyle Family Fitness, Moffitt Cancer Center, the American Heart Association, St. Joseph’s Children’s Family Hospital of Tampa, Suncoast Community Health Centers and the Florida Department of Health.

The center offers plenty of free classes and programs in areas like health and safety, child development and self-sufficiency thanks to a partnership with the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, Inc., Bright Beginnings, The Children’s Home, Inc., Child Abuse Council, St. Joseph’s Children’s Advocacy Center, and Catholic Charities.

For more information on the center or to check out any of the free programs, call 813-740-4634, email lvigo@brightbeginnings.org or visit the group’s web site.

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