AtlantiCare Atlantic City campus
ATLANTIC CITY - AtlantiCare will host its annual National Health Center Week Community Health Fair and Barbeque Friday, noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14 at the William L. Gormley HealthPlex, 1401 Atlantic Ave.
The event, which is usually packed with entertainment and takes place at the Pop Lloyd stadium in Atlantic City, will be a little more reserved this year.
Due to the need for physical distancing and other safety precautions to prevent spread of COVID-19, this year we need to be more formal, said Sandy Festa, executive director of AtlantiCare's Federally Qualified Health Center and its William L. Gormley AtlantiCare HealthPlex. More than a dozen state, regional, and local community agencies plan to line the perimeter of the block surrounding the HealthPlex to share information with attendees. We will provide packaged to-go meals. All vendor representatives, participants, and AtlantiCare staff will be required to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth.
The HealthPlex cares for approximately 10,000 unique individuals a year. The team has continued to provide care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This has included ensuring patients had access to food through the Pantry at the Plex.
Festa said the theme of this year's National Health Center Week is "Community Health Centers: Lighting the Way for Healthier Communities Today and in the Future!"
COVID-19's far-reaching highlight the importance of encouraging individuals and families to seek and get care. Though we can't socialize as we have previously, we can, and must continue to ensure those who are the most medically vulnerable have the support, care and services they need and deserve so that they can be healthy today and in the future.
Agencies attending will include those that provide healthcare, housing, health insurance enrollment and financial assistance, and other programs, support and services.
