North Central Health District

It Takes a Village Festival & Community Resource Expo to Be Held in Sparta

Posted April 15, 2024 by Michael Hokanson

Hancock County Schools, North Central Health District’s Supporting Health Initiatives and Nurturing Equity (SHINE) Team, the Sparta-Hancock Chamber of Commerce, Hancock County Health Department, the City of Sparta, and the Hancock County Board of Commissioners invite all community members and their families to the It Takes a Village Festival and Community Resource Expo on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 12670 Augusta Highway, Sparta, GA.

The event will kick off with a parade featuring a band and floats from local organizations and community groups, which starts at 10 a.m. at Hancock Industrial Park on Industrial Park Drive. Following the parade, the Community Fair and Resource Expo will have over 40 vendors providing something for everyone. There will be live entertainment, free health resources and information from local healthcare providers and organizations, raffles, job opportunities, veteran and military services, and over $15,000 in items and products to give away. The first 100 attendees to sign up will also be able to get complete bloodwork labs for free. In addition, there will be free transportation to and from the event with a complimentary shuttle service, available at the Hancock County Courthouse.

Along with the wide range of health resources at the expo, there will be a pop-up closet with free clothing and a car show courtesy of Milledgeville Car Scene. Additionally, there will also be a Kids Zone with inflatable bounce houses, face painting, a free library, and more activities for kids to enjoy.

“The SHINE program is excited to be a part of It Takes a Village Festival & Community Resource Expo. We know it truly takes a village to build healthier communities.” said Alicia Wright, Program Manager for the SHINE Program.

It Takes a Village promises to be an exciting, educational, and entertaining day for all who attend!

This event is offered with the help from our community partners and vendors from across Georgia. There will be A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol, and cardiovascular screenings provided by Georgia College and State University’s (GCSU) Center for Health and Social Issues, Medicaid re-determination assistance from Peach State Health Plan, elderly support and fresh food boxes from Chromatic Black, and so much more.

For more information on the It Takes a Village Festival and Community Expo, visit the North Central Health District’s Facebook page, facebook.com/NCHD52.

The SHINE Program is committed to improving the health outcomes and reducing health disparities among the African American population in Baldwin, Hancock and Washington Counties by implementing proven public health strategies in the areas of Nutrition, Physical Activity, Early Care and Education (ECE), and Adult Vaccinations. Interested in working with the SHINE Program? Visit nchd52.org/SHINE for more information about the SHINE program and to register as a partner.