As a way to promote the services, resources and programs available to community members on the eastern plains, the Community Outreach Center Coalition held a health and education fair at the El Paso County fairgrounds in Calhan Sept. 22.Forty-one vendors participated and more than 150 people attended, said Amanda McMurtrey , pastor of Calhan United Methodist Church. McMurtrey helped organize the event. ìLast year, we had 28 vendors and about 45 people showed up. Itís been much better this year,î she said.Formed in 2010, the COC is a 501(c) 3 organization. ìThe COC mission is to promote positive human growth through respect, responsibility, trust, caring, and community.î One of the original founders of the COC, Patty Jolly, said, ìThis (the COC) is a third generation dream to do something for the community.î The COC partners with more than 20 different agencies that offer services to the community.ìAs the COC was being formed, we became more and more aware of how much was available to people at either low or no cost, and people donít know about it,î McMurtrey said. This fair was an opportunity to change that, she added.In addition to the vendors, the fair offered face painting, balloon animals, door prizes, free massages and free haircuts.Vendor Stephen Kutscher, with Rock Solid Chiropractic, said he attended because he felt like it was a good opportunity to educate the public about chiropractic services. ìMy goal is to change the health of the community through proactive treatment,î he said.Colorado Springs resident Lyle Townley said he came out to the health and education fair because Calhanís homecoming luncheon was going on at the same time. Townley was born and raised in Calhan and graduated from Calhanís high school in 1953. Townley took advantage of the free haircuts offered by the Paul Mitchell School of Beauty.This is the second year the health and education fair has taken place, and the COC plans to make it an annual event, McMurtrey said.
