Healthcare Safetynet Committee Hosts Annual New York Local Health Fair

Nearly 250 SAG-AFTRA members filled the member spaces at 1900 Broadway on Wednesday, Oct. 14, for the annual New York Healthcare Safety Net (HCSN) Committee’s annual Health Fair. Free services for members included chair massages, Reiki sessions, BMI and glucose tests, ear seed auricular therapy, qi gong sessions, dental information, and free HIV and hepatitis-C screenings. All members who attended were offered complimentary healthy food. 

Informational seminars were offered in the boardroom from AFTRA H&R, SAG P&H and The Actors Fund Health Insurance Resource Center, as well as from independent speakers about spinal alignment and vocal health. One of the biggest draws was the free flu shots provided by The Actors Fund, supported by funding from the SAG Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund. Janet Pearl and Dr. James Spears from the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic were on hand to administer the shots, which were provided in a separate, private room. 

New this year, the HCSN Committee partnered with the American Red Cross to offer a blood drive on site at the SAG-AFTRA office. Committee member Bill Rapp has been organizing blood drives for performing artists for years, and the committee was excited to include a blood drive as part of the day’s offerings. 

“It was exciting to see our New York Health Fair deliver an increased array of wellness services,” said National HCSN Committee Co-Chair Cathy Lilly, who spearheaded the event. “Bravo to all who volunteered time and expertise to create this expanded event. Cheers to my New York HCSN in partnership with MOVE New York and MORE committees, SAG-AFTRA Membership Outreach Director Bernadine Robbins, and all of our wellness providers. I bow to you all.”

Note: The Actors Fund will be offering flu shots at the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic.

This article was originally featured in the December 2015 local e-newsletter.