There was a heartwarming story on the front page of our newspaper this week: Hundreds of medical professionals, language interpreters and community organizers gathered on a Saturday to give free medical care to people in need at the 16th annual Frederick Community Health Fair.
But it was also a not-so-subtle reminder once again of just how great the needs are of the less fortunate members of our community, of which there are many.
Organizers said more than 3,000 people preregistered to receive medical services, and others showed up to seek help, as well.
After all, it was just several weeks ago when the United Way of Frederick County reported that its count of the working poor households that it calls ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — had increased in 2021 by 4 percentage points, from 32% to 36%. And 7% of those families live below the federal poverty level.
And now this, thousands of folks showing up to get the most basic kinds of health care — everything from vaccinations, testing for hepatitis and HIV, eye exams, dental check-ups, breast exams to screenings for blood glucose and diabetes.
The sponsors of the fair were the Asian American Center of Frederick and Frederick Health Hospital. Our community is lucky to have them both — an active and involved nonprofit organization and a medical facility committed to the general welfare of Frederick.
The Asian American Center deserves special notice. It has become an active nonprofit organization, addressing a number of issues affecting the immigrant community. The group recently received a $150,000 grant from the Maryland Family Network to help prevent child abuse.
On its website, the group says it “is a minority-led, community-based organization with a mission to help all immigrants and minorities become independent,…
