June 13, 2013 -- Families traditionally set aside time in June to honor their fathers. But for one family, Father’s Day in June 1975 had a different meaning altogether. On that day, six-year old Virginia Garcia, the daughter of migrant farm workers, died while her father picked strawberries because she could not access care to treat a simple wound. In remembrance of Virginia’s short life and to honor her legacy, the Cornelius Wellness Center plans to hold a health screening day for kids on June 17, from 10 am to 3 pm. This special day is open to children from five years through 18 years of age and will offer a variety of fun and educational opportunities, all geared towards health and wellness.
Clinic Manager Primavera Armendariz stated: “With kids just getting out of school and looking for things to do, we want to offer a day to focus on health and wellness activities to get summer off to a great start.”
Kids will be issued “passports” that can be used to access a variety of activities including height/weight stations, healthy food tasting in the teaching kitchen, fun fitness activities, and a tour of the community gardens. They can also sign up for summer reading programs with the Cornelius Library and educational classes offered at Centro Cultural, and parents can learn about insurance programs for their children. Prizes will be offered for completing activities and a drawing will be held for a special prize.
“We are grateful to be able to offer this special day to the kids in our community, while remembering and honoring Virginia’s young life” said Armendariz. “Although little Virginia’s life ended all too soon, we are here to ensure that our community’s children lead healthy and active lives.”
Today, almost 38 years later, Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center provides more than 36,000 patients per year with patient-centered primary and oral health care in a medical home at four primary care clinics, three dental clinics, four school-based health centers and with the mobile van in Washington and Yamhill Counties.
To learn more about Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation and Health Center, visit www.virginiagarcia.org.
