Iris House Fifth Annual Plainfield Community Health & Wellness Fair

Iris House, a New York City-based AIDS Service Organization that provides services for women, families and communities infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, invites all to Plainfeld this Saturday for their Fifth Annual Plainfield Community Health & Wellness Fair.

"We are very proud of the work and growth our Plainfield programs has shown in the last few years, and the new services we've been able to add for the people of our city," said Ingrid Floyd, Executive Director of Iris House. "Since we first came to New Jersey, Iris House has worked with approximately 2,400 individuals in the state, taught in 7 schools and churches, given away more than 120,000 condoms each year, and conducted more than 100 HIV Rapid Tests each year."

The fair brings together local community organizations to offer Plainfield residents disease prevention education, supportive services and free screening/testing and information services for a number of healthcare issues critical to the community, including HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STI), obesity, hypertension, diabetes and breast cancer.

More than thirty organizations will be part of the fun! Participating organizations include Angels For Action, Community Access Unlimited, Wellcare, JFK Medical Center, Planned Parenthood of Central & Greater Northern NJ, Hopes Action (Head Start), NJ Sharing Network, Imagine Center for Coping with Loss, YWCA of Union County, New Hope for Recovers, Partnership for Maternal Child Health of Northern New Jersey.

Live entertainment also will be provided with performances by local artists, dance troupes and a DJ. In addition to Iris House, the community health and wellness fair is co-sponsored by Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, Scott Drugs, Front Street Pharmacy, Dunn Meadow Pharmacy, Wellcare Health Plans, Brown Funeral Home, Inc. Plainfield Beauty Supply, ViiV Healthcare & New Jersey Department of Health-Division of HIV/STD & TB Services.

The fair is free and open to all, and will offer free prizes, giveaways, and more!

Iris House provides services for women, families and communities infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. In addition to providing family-centered services that promote prevention, education and awareness, Iris House also offers practical services that address the day-to-day needs and reality of living with HIV/AIDS.

Iris House provides nutritional counseling and meal programs, intensive case management, scatter site housing, mental health services and support groups, and job and life skills training. Since opening its doors in 1993, Iris House has assisted thousands of individuals cope with HIV/AIDS and reached tens of thousands of people in our communities through outreach, prevention education and free HIV Rapid Testing.

The Fifth Annual Plainfield Community Health & Wellness Fair will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, August 13 at The Plaza at Plainfield Park, Madison Building, 200 West 2nd Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060

For more information on Iris House and Iris House programs, visit www.irishouse.org