For the fourth year in a row, the Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency held its annual health fair at the Middlesboro Mall.

The main goal of the health fair to is showcase all of the available health services the people of Bell County have — some of which they may not be aware.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. various local medical and humanitarian agencies gathered at the Middlesboro Mall for the Bell-Whitley sponsored event. They included Middlesboro ARH, Tri-State Health and Rehab, HANDS, Bell County Health Department, Air Evac, Cumberland Valley Domestic Violence Services, Kentucky Homeplace, Self Refined, MCHC – Middlesboro Campus, Red Bird Mission, Social Security Administration, and Goodwill Senior Community Service Employment Program.

The sponsors provided free resources for all who attended as well as free screenings.

Sandy Hoskins, Community Service Block Grant Director for the Community Action Agency, stated that the purpose of the fair was to “showcase what we actually have to offer in Bell County, as far as services go.”

The broader scope of the Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency is to battle poverty in any way they can, and that means attacking it from all aspect that include healthcare resources ranging from basic health screenings, to childhood development and drug addiction.

“We’re fighting the war on poverty. We look at, what are the barriers to poverty? There are lots of them,” said Hoskins.

The fair was patronized by young and adult alike with a steady stream of interested citizens partaking in the services offered.

“One of our biggest things is building those partnerships within the community with those other organizations — that we can come together as one,” said Hoskins.