LOS ANGELES–The Armenian National Committee of America – Hollywood (ANCA-H) is encouraging Armenian-Americans in the Hollywood area to attend the largest community fair in East Hollywood on Saturday, November 20th. The fair will provide free health check-ups, various money-saving public resources and music to help community members enjoy a healthy and financially worry free holiday.
Organized by the Thai Community Development Corporation on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the “Live Work and Play in East Hollywood Consumer Resource and Health Fair” will raffle away free turkey vouchers at the Hollywood and Western Metro Station in Hollywood to celebrate the upcoming holiday season.
“Live Work and Play in East Hollywood” will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. The event aims to bring free social services and health checkups to benefit communities that are undeserved, especially immigrants who cannot afford health insurance, legal consultations or are falling behind on their bills to pay for utilities, credit card, food, mortgage, rent, etc. For a decade, the event has served more than 10,000 low income families and children in the area and brought together more than 150 volunteers each year to make this event possible.
Knowing that there are plenty of money-saving resources scattered out there, “We brought together nonprofit organizations, government agencies, banks, medical centers that provides the services the community needs to the Metro station of Hollywood and Western which is easily accessible to the general public who can go one-stop shopping for free services and health check-ups,” said Chanchanit Martorell, Executive Director of the host organization, the Thai Community Development Center, “and most important of all, we have volunteers who speak Spanish, Thai, and Armenian to help community members overcome their language barriers and learn the information they desperately need to help themselves and their families.”
Since East Hollywood has very high diabetes and obesity rate among both adult and children, and one third of its population live below the poverty line, compared to the state average of 14%, the community fair will bring services to address these problems and make sure community members will have their health and finance checked before the holidays and their non-stop spending during the season.
“The Thai CDC provides a great service to the community with the Live Work and Play in East Hollywood Health Fair, and we are happy to help them spread the word about this great event” said Paul Seraderian, Vice Chair of the ANCA-H. “We face common health challenges, and as neighbors and friends, we need to work together to improve our community”
On top of the booths providing services, there will also be workshops addressing tenants’ rights, childhood obesity, debt management, credit management in English, Spanish and Thai, music, and turkey voucher raffle drawings.
The event is sponsored by the Gas Company, Community Redevelopment Agency/Hollywood, and East Hollywood Neighborhood Council. It is co-hosted by Councilman Eric Garcetti, McCormack Baron Salazar, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, United Methodist Church, Hollywood & Western LP, Ralphs and the Armenian National Committee of America – Hollywood chapter.
