Families from Northeast Ohio are invited to attend the 7th Annual Healthy Baby Fair & Family Expo, Saturday, October 3rd from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the John S. Knight Convention Center in Downtown Akron. The free event, for families with kids birth to 17 years, brings together key providers of family services.
Education offerings include the Healthy Homes Pavilion, Akron Children’s Hospital Health Pavilion with the SafeKids Coalition and the new booster seat law, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio financial literacy programming, “Music Together Summit” childhood music activities, plus, consumer help with picking utilities, debt reduction, foreclosure prevention/mortgage assistance, and lead hazard control grants.
“The Growing Years” - Growing Up Fashionably Green Fashion Show steps off at 10:30 a.m. and features a special appearance by new mom, Betsy Kling of WKYC TV 3. The first 200 parents seated will get a goody bag plus be entered into prize drawings announced at 11:30a.m. Music Together Summit will follow with family music activities.
Budget-conscious families won’t want to miss the Big Red Wagon Kids’ and Maternity Consignment “MINI” Sale, the Gift Gallery by Weaver Industries with gifts priced right, Hattie's Café & Gifts gourmet food products, and the Growing Years Upscale Resale Shop with great savings on Halloween costumes. Akron Health Department’s seasonal flu shots are offered 10 a.m.– 1 p.m. to adults and kids 6 months and up for a reasonable fee.
No one will leave empty-handed. The first 100 moms-to-be get a gift-filled tote bag. Door prize drawings through the day include a MomsLikeMe.com special prize drawing. G.A.S.P. offers a free permanent child I.D. file on a computer disc with fingerprint, photo, and voice recording for kids of all ages. Akron Area YMCA offers free guest passes; and, Akron Area Soap Box Derby offers a free photo in an authentic Soap Box Derby car.
Akron Children’s Hospital will be showcasing their “Ask Children’s” information line, Sick Child Care Center, SafeKids program, Genetics services, and more. The Akron Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program will kick-off October Lead Awareness Month with lead cleaning kit demos and Healthy Homes DVDs, while supplies last. The Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio will present 6 workshops for parents, featuring ideas on how to gain money management skills early in life; how to increase income, become a responsible consumer, create a budget, build and manage
credit, and save and invest for the future.
A new addition to this year’s event is the 1st Annual “Akron Gots Talent” Tween Talent Show at 12p.m. Soloists, instrumentalists, music or dance groups in the 6 – 9th grade can enter. The grand prize is an appearance at First Night Akron. Parents can register their talented kids by calling 330- 375-2109 ext. 6688.
“Our babies are growing up so we’ve grown, too!” said Jane Trinter, Community Coordinator for the Akron Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. She explains that is the reason for opening the event up to families with kids up to age 17 years. About 80 family-focused organizations with products, services, or assistance are available under one roof for a one-stop “shopping” opportunity.
The 7th Annual Healthy Baby Fair & Family Expo, presented by Akron Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program in partnership with area Kiwanis Clubs, is supported by organizations that share their mission of supporting the health and well being of families – Summit County Children Services, Unison Health Plan, Akron Children’s Hospital, Buckeye Community Health Plan, Summit County MRDD/Weaver Industries, Cleveland Akron Family Magazine, and Western Reserve PBS.
Event admission and downtown parking are free. For more information, call the Akron Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 330-375-2077. Please note that for security reasons, the John S. Knight Center does not permit backpacks.
