By Kelly White
The Palos Area Chamber of Commerce encourages its residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to stay active within the local community.
Doing just that, the chamber hosted a Life Well, Be Well event on October 7 at the Palos Heights Parks & Recreation Center, 6601 W. 127th St.
“The goal was to educate the community on resources that can help them live well and be well,” Yvonne Bustos, Secretary of the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “It was an opportunity for everyone to come out and learn about the different business and services that we have in the community.”
The free event was open to the public and organized by the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce’s Health & Business Expo Planning Committee.
The committee is made up of six individuals who provide different services within the Palos community: Yvonne Bustos from Elevate Care Palos Heights – Rehab & Long-Term Care; Tricia Trendle from Home Instead – Caregivers; Christine Brown from Elevate Care Palos Heights – Rehab & Long-Term Care; Elizabeth Lawler from OSF LCOM – Community Relations; Nancy Smeraldo – Peace Village – Retirement Community; and Alison Parker from Pathlights – Nonprofit serving aging adults.
“The event has been hosted by the chamber for many years,” Bustos said. “The name has changed a few times, but the goal has remained the same to help our community members. We had to take a break during covid, so we are excited to be back and to carry on the tradition of helping the community through our local businesses and nonprofits.”
Saturday’s health expo featured presentations by the Palos Heights Police and Fire Departments for community safety. Nonprofit organizations, including Pathlights, along with OSF Little Company of Mary Hospital offered free healthcare screenings, including blood glucose checks, blood pressure checks and vaccines.
Caregiver resources were available on-site from Home Instead and senior living information was provided by Peace Village Retirement Community, Rehab & Long-Term Care, Elevate Care Palos Heights and many others.
Local health and fitness clubs and health food stores within the community also attended the event. And for children in attendance, there was a children’s fashion show, courtesy of Sassy Girl Chalet Marketplace in Palos Heights and a children’s craft table.
“This event helps the public by educating them on services and local businesses in their area that they might need. Including healthcare, fitness, health foods, financial planning, long term planning, caregivers and many nonprofit community resources,” Bustos said. “I love seeing the community members come in and learning from the vendors and presentations. My hope is we can help them in some way.”
As a thank you to first responders, breakfast and lunch was generously donated by local restaurants: Lumes, Dunkin’ Donuts, Steve’s Bites, Julliani’s Pizza, Aurelio’s Pizza, Peppo’s Subs and Dough Guys.
First responders were able to come in at their leisure throughout the day and enjoy a delicious free meal.
“I really like that the community takes the time to thank our first responders that day,” Bustos said.
