The Northern Valley Health Coalition and Sunshine Community Health Center extend our deepest gratitude to all the vendors, exhibitors, and community members who attended the 2nd Annual Community Celebration this past Saturday. The event was a tremendous success, and we couldn’t have done it without your support and participation.
Celebration Highlights
A special thanks to Rachel Harrison and Mary Gunderson for sitting at the event information booth and engaging with community members, distributing towels, rain ponchos, Naloxone kits, and more. You are both amazing Board Members!
Backpack Distribution: Thanks to Sunshine Community Health Center and their Thrive Grant, we provided 90 backpacks filled with school supplies to families in need. Any remaining backpacks will be distributed to Northern Valley Schools. A special thank you to Rachel Harrison, Marina McCambridge, and Duronda Twigg for handling the distribution.
Free Sports Physicals: Sunshine CHC provided 9 free sports physicals during the event. Thank you to our dedicated providers, Jenelle Johnson, PA, Keith Kehoe, PA, and Dr. Forman, MD (who spent much of the day disguised as Sasquatch!). We also appreciate Amanda Simpson, Stephanie Stanley-Harrell and Sara Drover for their efforts in managing the check-in process and registering families for Well Child Checks.
What is a Well Child Check?
A Well Child Check is a comprehensive health assessment that ensures a child's growth and development are on track. It includes physical exams, immunizations, and discussions about nutrition, safety, and behavior. These checks are vital for early detection of potential health issues and for promoting overall well-being.
Children’s Entertainment: A huge thank you to Amanda Simpson, Gina McCullough, and Amber Moore for keeping the kids entertained with crafts, face painting, and more.
We also appreciate Sunshine Station Child Care Center for stepping in with their bouncy house after the original provider had to cancel. Sunshine Station offers quality child care services and is a vital resource for our community.
Free Haircuts: We are immensely grateful to Annette Lowdermilk, who provided approximately 20 free haircuts during the event. Her dedication and volunteerism are greatly appreciated.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program: Thank you to Lisa Boyles from Alaska Family Services’ WIC program for sharing valuable resources and hosting a craft booth. WIC provides nutrition assistance to eligible low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children under five in Alaska. We look forward to collaborating with your team at the Alaska State Fair.
Vaccinations: Fairweather LLC provided free vaccinations, helping to keep our community healthy. Vaccines play a crucial role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and we’re thankful for Fairweather LLC’s continued support. They serve communities across Alaska, offering health and safety services tailored to local needs.
Culinary Delights: A big thank you to Bronn Salmon, Duronda Twigg, and Stephanie Stanley-Harrell for coordinating the free hot dogs and snacks. Special thanks to Emily and Greg Barron of White Moose Kitchen for their top-notch tacos and quesadillas. Pairing the shrimp quesadilla with samples from the Mayor’s Salsa booth was a highlight! We hope to see future collaborations between these wonderful brands and veterans.
Medicare Information: Dana Norwood from the Medicare Information Office made meaningful connections and provided valuable guidance on Medicare services. For more information on Medicare resources in Alaska, please contact the Medicare Information Office directly.
Adult and Teen Challenge: We were honored to host Adult and Teen Challenge at our event. This organization provides comprehensive addiction recovery programs and support for those in need. We look forward to continuing our relationship with them.
Mat-Su Public Health: The State of Alaska provided important information on Mat-Su Public Health, which focuses on promoting health and preventing disease within our community. Collaborations with Sunshine CHC’s Chief Nursing Officer, Duronda Twigg, RN, BSN, are in the works, and we’re excited to see what the future holds.
LINKS Resource Center: Thank you to LINKS Resource Center for attending and sharing their knowledge. This amazing organization supports individuals with disabilities and their families, helping them navigate various resources and services. LINKS will be presenting at the next NVHC meeting on September 10th. Visit our NVHC events page to learn more and join us.
Alaska Brain Bus: Dr. Grove and his family brought the Alaska Brain Bus to educate the community on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). We are grateful for their engagement and look forward to future collaborations, including connecting with the snowmachine community in Alaska for more TBI screenings at the upcoming Awaken of Winter event at Hilltop Ski Resort hosted by Awaken Productions and Artwork by Sierra Winter.
Jessica Stevens Community Foundation: We were pleased to have the support of the Jessica Stevens Community Foundation at our event. It was wonderful to see so many of their members involved, and we hope you enjoyed the progress made to the Jessica Stevens Memorial Garden.
Upper Susitna Community and Senior Center: Despite hosting an event at the same time, the Upper Susitna Community and Senior Center still found time to have a booth at our celebration. We appreciate Marti and the other volunteers for being there.
Denali Education Center: The Denali Education Center shared resources, information, and used books for donation. If you missed meeting Kellie at our event, check out our recent blog highlighting their programs. We thank them again for presenting at the August NVHC meeting.
Talkeetna Historical Society: We were thrilled to have the Talkeetna Historical Society join us last minute. Their membership program offers great benefits, including free parking at the museum, and supports the preservation of Alaska’s history. They’re also hosting a Salmon Decorating Competition, with submissions due by August 15th.
Denali Arts Council: The Denali Arts Council had a crafting station set up, and volunteers even participated in the Salmon Decorating Competition. It was a true display of collaboration!
Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance: We were pleased to welcome the Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance, which provided valuable resources and information on eating disorder awareness and recovery. They work tirelessly to support those affected by eating disorders in Alaska.
Wild Health Alaska: Aubrey Smith with Wild Health Alaska shared her mission to provide holistic healthcare solutions tailored to the unique needs of Alaskans. We anticipate exciting collaborations between her and the Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance.
Upper Susitna Food Pantry: The Upper Susitna Food Pantry provided apples and information at the event. Lou Anne, Alison McCullough, Emily Barron, and the rest of the team are dedicated members of our community, and their efforts to fight hunger are deeply appreciated.
KTNA: We are grateful to KTNA for keeping our community informed and for their presence at the event. Their team’s dedication to local news and community engagement is invaluable.
Vendors: A special thank you to all the wonderful vendors who participated, providing a variety of products and services while supporting our community’s underserved members. Whether you were shopping early for the holidays or enjoying a sweet treat, the vendors made it a memorable experience.
Renee's Bakery: Let’s not talk about how many brownies were consumed, but remember, treating yourself occasionally is important! Sourdough, a key ingredient in many of their products, offers health benefits such as improved digestion and lower glycemic index.
Mayor's Salsa: Did we mention salsa is basically a salad? It’s healthy! Salsa offers benefits like being rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
AK Snowriders: Chris Basler is on a mission to create a kind and compassionate community in the snowmachine industry while promoting safety in the backcountry.
Jenny Made: Jenny brought her crochet crafts, from crowns to skirts, and sweaters. Her joyful spirit was a bright spot on a rainy day.
907 Main Street Designs: This local business offers unique and custom designs for clothing, accessories, and more. Children were fascinated with their 3D printed creations.
AK Built: Specializing in Alaskan-themed apparel and accessories, AK Built celebrates the rugged and adventurous spirit of Alaska.
Wendy Sutherland’s Creative Artwork: Wendy uses rocks, stones, gems, and other natural materials to create beautiful and unique pieces.
Crafty Pickers: This business offers a range of handcrafted items, perfect for unique gifts and home decor.
Artwork by Sierra Winter: Artwork by Sierra Winter is pleased to offer a 15% discount on design fees for all attendees of the Community Celebration. This discount applies to a wide range of services, including logo design, marketing materials, website development, wraps, vinyl, signs, and more. Please note that this discount does not apply to the $300.00 coupons donated to the Silent Auction. To learn more about the creative services offered by Artwork by Sierra Winter, visit www.artworkbysierrawinter.com.
McCullough Excavation: We owe a big thank you to McCullough Excavation for their prompt and quality work on Sunshine CHC's expansion project. Their early completion allowed us to extend our parking, making the celebration more accessible to everyone.
We know there are more people to thank, and while we may not have mentioned everyone, please know that your contributions are appreciated. We are incredibly grateful and proud to serve such a wonderful community. Please mark your calendars for next year’s celebration on the second Saturday of August, concluding National Health Center Week.
Lastly, please take a moment to complete our Celebration Survey to help us plan for next year. Your feedback is invaluable.
You are appreciated!
Sierra Winter President, Northern Valley Health Coalition
This blog entry was created with the support of AI.
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