For members of the Salt Lake Junior League, they may already know that the Junior League Community Assistance and Resource Event (CARE) Fair is an event for families needing routine medical, dental, and vision services along with community assistance information. Typically, major hurdles such as time, language, financial, and transportation constraints prevented some Utah families from receiving basic health and human services. The CARE Fair eliminated many of those barriers by bringing together community agencies and medical service providers at one time and in one place. These medical services are provided free of charge at the CARE Fair event held at Horizonte Instruction and Training Center in Salt Lake.

In addition to free health and dental services, families can receive free bike helmets and car seats on a first-come, first-served basis at CARE Fair.

Speaking to Lindsey Whinnery, 2021-2022 CARE Fair Director, about the past two years and shifting how things are done due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, “We have been doing virtual committee meetings, primarily because we have a higher turnout. But returning to hybrid meetings soon to provide a more engaging committee for our members.”

Since the annual CARE Fair is a busy event, with people filling the hallways of Horizonte Instruction and Training Center, things had to change to apply to social distancing guidelines. In the spring of 2020, instead of hosting another busy CARE Fair, the committee donated their personal protective equipment (PPE) – kept in storage from previous fairs – to the University of Utah Health.

In the fall of 2020, Whinnery said they issued dental vouchers over a several-month period. In the spring of 2021, they prepared dental bags of toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, etc. and distributed them among the community.
In June 2021, the League partnered with Nomi Health and hosted a free vaccine event at Horizonte, where they distributed free Johnson & Johnson vaccines and the first dose of Pfizer vaccines for children ages 12-17.

It is important to note that League member June Steely — the 2021-2022 Junior League Vice President of Projects and a past CARE Fair director — is now the Medical Director at Nomi Health. She arranged for rapid COVID testing for future events, which is critical for us to bring back these events.

Also, at the June 2021 CARE Fair event, the League once again continued its usual routine of distributing free bicycle helmets and infant car seats on a first-come, first-serve basis. And like before, a vehicle and a qualified child had to be present for the installation.

JLSLC looks forward to the July 2022 CARE Fair at Horizonte Instruction and Training Center, in Salt Lake City.