news@lockhaven.com

LOCK HAVEN — The River Valley Regional Lock Haven YMCA hosted the Harrisburg YMCA For Healthy Living Staff, for a Health Equity Tour event Thursday.

The tour’s purpose is to provide health related resources to 67 counties across Pa.

Lock Haven is the 42nd stop this year on the group’s tour, as they continue to spread health awareness throughout the state.

Outdoor vendors congregate outside of The Lock Haven YMCA to provide health related information and resources to the public.

The YMCA has teamed up with organization Pennie in order to distribute educational information about how to obtain insurance through the state-based exchange.

The team also provides information on food resources, harmful effects of tobacco use and vaping, COVID-19 information, and other concerns specific to each visited area.

At each event, YMCA staff work with local food banks and food pantries to distribute food.

“We’re providing a bunch of the local community organizations to come in and table at these events to provide their resources back to the community. Any type of local hospital system, primary care, specialty office, physical therapy — We really try to pull those people in, and we request those entities actually bring on site health screenings, so we’ve done STI HIV testing, we’ve done A1C, testing blood glucose, blood pressure screenings, bone density, over all wellness, different things like that. We’ve provided vaccinations, whether it’s regular flu or COVID, eventually we’re going to be providing HPV vaccinations as well,” said Amy Jacobs, Director of Community Integrated Health at the Harrisburg YMCA.

The group will continue on with their tour, as they are aiming to hit their 67 mark by February.

For additional information and resources about the tour, visit YMCA Center For Healthy Living on Facebook.