By Amira Van Leeuwen
HAYS COUNTY — The Hays County Local Health Department partnered with Christus Trinity Clinic to host its Back to School Fair at 1401 Broadway St., Ste. A in San Marcos from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday.
While the event was held in San Marcos, all residents of Hays County were invited to attend.
The event offered an assortment of brochures for different support services, including youth recovery, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program benefits.
The Hays County Food Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Parents as Teachers, Capital Area Agency on Aging, Cenikor Foundation and the San Marcos Police and Fire departments were all in attendance.
Parents As Teachers is an organization that promotes optimal early development, learning, and health of young children by supporting and engaging parents and caregivers. The organization’s biggest clients are Child Protective Services, parents looking for parenting classes and teenagers who don’t know how to be a parent because they, themselves, are children.
Margie Rodriguez, clinic manager with the Hays County Local Health Department, said they are providing resource information that’s needed for a lot of the community.
“Vaccinations are an essential part of preparing to send your kids back to school,” Rodriguez said in an online news release. “Throughout the rest of that week, we will also be offering free back-to-school vaccinations for uninsured and underinsured children 18 years and younger at the health department.”
As children waited to receive their vaccines they could enjoy the bouncy house, get their faces painted or get a balloon animal. Children could also pick up bookmarks, stress balls, colorful pencils and bracelets, along with small bags of popcorn, popsicles and toys.
Vaccinations will continue to be administered until Aug. 19 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 401 Broadway St., Ste. A in San Marcos.
