Newport News Health Fair Brings Healing, Hope to 460

Story by Debra C. Anderson

The health fair hosted by Potomac Conference's Newport News (Va.) church recently delivered nearly $305,000 worth of no-cost medical, dental and vision services to 460 attendees in the Virginia Tidewater region. Supported by 283 volunteers, the event reflected a strong spirit of service and collaboration.

First held in 2017, the fair represented a joint effort of English- and Spanish-speaking churches partnering with Remote Area Medical (RAM), a nonprofit provider of mobile medical clinics. This partnership addressed urgent needs in an area federally designated as deficient in health care providers.

Event Co-Chair Elias Llerandi, a local dentist and member of the Peninsula Spanish church in Hampton, Va., underscores the importance of the fair: “Many in our region are uninsured, face language barriers or have limited access to care. By offering free services and connecting patients to local resources, the health fair helps ensure that medical support is not limited to this once-a-year event but can continue throughout the year.”

Organizers emphasized that the health fair sought to serve both body and spirit, providing medical care while extending faith-based encouragement.

For the Newport News church community, leaders say the health fair functioned as both service and ministry, with outcomes seen not only in restored health but also in lives touched by compassion and faith, blessing both the volunteers and the recipients alike.