LYNN — The City Hall Wellness Fair hosted several organizations that work to improve the health and well-being of residents of the city and neighboring communities on Tuesday.
The organizations promoted all kinds of health, whether physical, mental, or emotional, and made attendees aware of the products and services that they offer.
Ash Hames, the outreach and intake coordinator for the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development, described the authority’s lead-abatement work, which aims to reduce lead poisoning.
Hames explained that LHAND has been working to mitigate lead poisoning in children and provide more educational and financial services to reduce it.
“A lot of people don’t realize it doesn’t just happen via oral, but it can also spread in ways like through dust, which some parents can even bring home with them from work if in, say, a construction job,” Hames said.
Hames said that LHAND has worked to combat this issue by providing more information about it to contractors.
Hames also explained that LHAND has helped by giving out lead-abatement loans of up to $20,000 per housing unit at a 0% interest rate.
Mass Senior Action Council, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to seniors and their families, was represented at the fair by Pam Edwards, Rosa Bentley, and Debbie Craig.
The council seeks to prioritize issues that seniors face, such as health care, economic security, food insecurity, housing, transportation, racial justice, long-term care, and corporate accountability.
Edwards discussed how the MassHealth asset limit has not been updated since 1989. She also described some of the issues the council has seen with age disparities in MassHealth.
“This is also a racial justice issue,” Edwards said.
Greater Lynn Senior Services, which provides home care, senior-care options, and long-term services and support, was also present and represented by Margaret Gilligan. Gilligan spoke about the nonprofit’s work and explained that it is currently focused on the Phoenix Food Hub initiative, which works to prevent food insecurity and offers nutrition classes.
“The initiative serves all ages, not just the elderly,” Gilligan said.
She mentioned that GLSS also provides clinical and protective services, advocates for seniors’ safety and security, and offers counseling and support for those who need it.
Mayor Jared Nicholson, who attended the fair, described its importance to the staff at City Hall and to Lynn in general.
“The City Hall Wellness Fair creates a healthy and productive environment for the community and City Hall staff,” Nicholson said. “We’re thankful for the organizations that participated in sharing their services and opportunities for everyone to learn about healthy living and engage in activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.”
