Event to offer free health services

Community organizations are teaming up to host HealthFest from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

The free event is more than just another health fair, organizers say. Basic medical, dental and mental health services will be provided free of charge.

In the event that a participant is identified as having a health concern that requires additional care, they will be connected to follow-up care to ensure that their health improves.

"We want to connect some of the 25,000 uninsured people living in Kootenai County to the health services they need to keep them from getting sicker and ending up in the emergency department," said Andrea Thomas, one of HealthFest's organizers.

Throughout the day there will be a wide variety of classes offered. Dietitians from the University of Idaho will demonstrate cooking methods for nutritious and low-cost meals and meals for people with diabetes.

Representatives of area food banks, soup kitchens, Hospice of North Idaho and other area agencies will provide information about their services.

The Coeur d'Alene Police Department will be on hand to collect used and discarded medications from 8 a.m. to noon.

Child care will be provided.