Agape Community Economic Development Inc. is hoping to keep the community healthy by holding its annual health fair next weekend.

The fair, which is scheduled for Oct. 14, will be held at Beloved Apostolic Church of God in Selmont. The church is located on Roosevelt Avenue just off of U.S. Highway 80 East. The health fair will be from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and is free.

Mary Watson, event coordinator, said it is an effort to make the community more aware of living and eating healthy.

“It’s very important for the community that we continue to do this because based on their testimonies if it weren’t for Agape they really wouldn’t have known they were in the conditions that they’re in,” Watson said.

Watson said Agape had made note of testimonies from people that have gone to the health fair in years past and found out they had a health issue that needed to be addressed.

“They will find out that information here, otherwise because they don’t have health insurance and can’t afford health insurance,” Watson said.

The health fair will begin with a walk-a-thon from 9-9:45 a.m. followed by vendors and exhibitors from 10-2 p.m.

Watson said there would be around 30 vendors, including Vaughan Regional Medical Center, Wallace Community College Selma, Sarrell Dental, the Dallas County Family Resource Center, Selma AIR and others.

Activities will include health screenings for weight, blood pressure, and diabetes.

“A lot of times we put ourselves on the back burner and don’t want to check ourselves and put others before us,” said Doris Polnitz, who helps organize the event. “But that’s not a good thing, so this is a good time to come out and get their pressure checked.”

There will also be a food truck giving out free snacks and lunch, inflatables for children and more.

A lot of time and planning goes into putting the event on, but Watson said it is all worth it.

“It gets a little tedious sometimes, but you know that you’re doing it to help somebody else,” Watson said.

Watson said more than 200 people attended the health fair last year, and she is hoping for a big crowd this year as well.

For more information, contact Agape at (334) 874-4104.