Winter Wellness event helps at-risk residents prepare

Three Quad Cities organizations are teaming up to hold their second annual Winter Wellness event to help residents and homeless individuals get ready for the cold months ahead. 

The Winter Wellness health and vendor fair will be on Monday, Dec. 4, at the Davenport Public Library at 321 N. Main St. Complementary health screenings and flu shots will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a vendor fair running from 9:30 a.m. to noon. 

The event aids individuals who are encountering housing challenges by providing crucial services and winter preparedness resources.

Health services will include free flu shots, HIV testing, colon cancer screening and blood pressure checks. A number of organizations will be on hand distributing various essential winter items including coats and jackets as well as laundry vouchers and bus tokens. Blankets collected and donated by the Bettendorf Rotary Club also will be distributed.

The event was organized by Community Health Care, Inc.; Scott County Health Department; and Davenport Public Library. Amerigroup Iowa provided donations for laundry vouchers and will provide laundry bags. 

In addition to the sponsoring organizations, these vendors also will be on hand: Kinna’s House of Love, NAACP, Amani Community Services, Eastern Iowa Crisis Region, Vera French Community Mental Health, Better Care Insurance Group, NAMI, UnityPoint Health, J & M Empire LLC Consulting, Group Violence Intervention (GVI) and Iowa Totalcare. 

The Clothing Center at Minnie’s Maison will provide winter blankets and socks, while Kinna’s House of Love is donating winter coats, hats, gloves and shoes.