For the third consecutive year, the “Adventists in Southern California” Health Booth at the L.A. County Fair provided non-invasive screening and lifestyle information and material. This year’s packets included Creation Health, the sharing book for the year, along with Discover Bible School cards.

In addition to handing out more than 3,500 bags of healthy lifestyle material, more than 2,000 people were screened and numerous referrals made. One booth person who had been screened the previous year expressed gratitude: “I was referred to my doctor in time to prevent some very serious consequences. I had no idea I had a physical problem, and without the booth, I probably would not have known to request screening.”

Because the fair is scheduled for 17 full days each September, the booth provides an extended opportunity for area Adventist churches and hospitals to work together. “The amount of good will that the booth generates has been surprising,” says Betty Cooney, Southern California Conference communication director, who manages the booth. “Volunteers express gratitude and pride that the conference and hospitals are providing this vehicle for expressing Adventist interest and information for the general public. ‘I am so glad to see us out there,’ volunteers have told us. And fair visitors stopped to tell us how pleased they are that the churches and hospitals were providing free screening and information.”

For the third year, Vi Bokermann of the Temple City Church was responsible for the overall filling of more than 165 volunteer slots with volunteers from all five regions of the conference. Reporting on opening day when her church sponsored the booth, she said, “While parents were screened, GAMC staff gave out hand puppets and Early Child Development information for children in the morning. Temple City member Sonnie Ramos made up balloons shaped like little bears for children coming later in the day. On the fair’s closing day, Sonnie shaped balloons into animal shapes. A sticker on the balloons stated, ‘Adventists in Southern California Health Booth.’”

More than 14 churches sponsored whole or half days, providing all volunteer staff involved; individual volunteers from additional churches participated on other days.

Teams of retirees coordinated by Eagle Rock member Gladys Vance and Vallejo Drive Pathfinders and parents volunteered a total of nearly 50 hours prior to the fair to stuff the handout bags with books and materials to stamp hospital and conference URLs on each book.

Glendale Adventist, Loma Linda and White Memorial Medical Centers and Simi Valley Hospital co-sponsored the health booth with Southern California Conference.