Catholic Charities Fair Serves Up Healthy Menu

Attendees at the annual Health Fair for Refugees presented by Catholic Charities of Long Island were treated to healthful activities ranging from nutritional tips, growing vegetables, a fitness workout, and artistic sketching.

Sigrid Villalobos, a staff member with CCLI’s Immigrant Services, showed visitors how to plant vegetables in fall and winter. She sent them home with their choice of seeds for radishes, lettuce, spinach, and other vegetables, and a soil-filled planter.

“We want to teach them to be a little healthier,” Villalobos said.

Given today’s climate, many immigrants on Long Island and across the nation are afraid to leave their homes. Still, it’s very important that they take part in activities to improve their physical and mental outlook, Villalobos said.

Another session featured nutritional information from Italia Granshaw of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Suffolk County. She gave pointers about healthy eating, saying participants should be consuming vegetables of many colors, most especially green.

“If all your vegetables are brown, it’s a problem,” said Granshaw, explaining the benefits of green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, and asparagus.

She said that they should be consuming four cups of vegetables and fruits each day, emphasizing whole fruits which are better for the body and the wallet.

Granshaw, who delivered her talk in Spanish and English, said a colleague would repeat the lesson in French Creole for members of the Haitian community.

The Sept. 10 fair, held outside on CCLI’s Amityville campus, was offered through the New York State Refugee Health Promotion, which Catholic Charities serves as a provider.

Vendors from many organizations were present. They included Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union, Fidelis Care, the NYS Office of Mental Health’s Hispanic Counseling Center, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Youth Enrichment Services.

Catholic Health personnel, operating from their mobile unit, conducted health screenings and provided flu vaccinations.

Participants who had their “passports” stamped by each of the vendors received a prize.

A large contingent of Catholic Charities employees and volunteers facilitated the program and services. Raffle drawings were called regularly.

One volunteer, Jay Stein, was joined by his friendly pooch, Charlie, a certified therapy dog. This was their first outing on behalf of Catholic Charities. Charlie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is “cute as a button” and enjoys being petted.

Stein said the participating guests “were looking for services, and also looking out for themselves at the same time.”

Catholic Charities of Long Island shares the love of Jesus by offering dignified and compassionate care to poor and vulnerable neighbors of every faith and background. The support Catholic Charities offers refugees and other immigrants is modeled after Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25:35-40.