Pearl River County School District hosted its third annual Family Health Fair Tuesday night at the Pearl River Central High School campus cafeteria.

The event was an opportunity to highlight some of the local community health services available to the public, said district Curriculum Coordinator and Wellness Coordinator Kimberly Alford.

“Its important, we believe, for us to model for our families healthy lifestyles by offering an opportunity just to see all the avenues in our community,” Alford said.

Food Services Director and Wellness Coordinator Sheila Amacker said the night is about health, nutrition, mental and spiritual awareness.

More than 20 groups were available to answer questions and talk about the services they provide to the community. Some of the groups included local business like Smoothie King, Skate Station, Picayune Taekwondo and Total Fitness. Other groups included school district departments like the Food Service Department, School Security Council and district social workers..

The vocational school’s health sciences class read people’s blood pressure and the Picayune Eye Clinic was available to perform eye exams.

Also present were Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services, Department of Human Services and MSU Extension Services.

Some groups spoke about nutrition and exercise, while others spoke about the dangers of smoking and drug use.

Resurrection Life was present to address the topic of spiritual wellness.

“It’s more than just classroom instruction, it’s about giving families the opportunity to see all the positive services that we have,” Alford said.

Amacker said it is important to have parents present because “everything either starts at home or is reinforced at home” and having parental support helps encourage students to live a healthy lifestyle.

The idea for a Family Health Fair came from speaking to other wellness coordinators in the state and inquiring about what those districts do to promote healthy living, Amacker said.

“Our fair itself would not be as successful as it is without community involvement.

It’s two fold. We’re doing this to service the community, but then you have the community helping our school district as well,” Amacker said.