Harlem Health Fair Connects 1,000 Residents to Essential Services

The day-long initiative brought together over a dozen local organizations, including Anthem, EmblemHealth, and Hunger Free America, to address rising living costs and food insecurity. Beyond distributing backpacks and classroom essentials, the fair served as a centralized hub for enrollment in WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid. Attendees engaged in cooking demonstrations and consulted with providers on navigating social support networks.

A core objective of the gathering was to introduce families to WholeYouNYC, a social care network managed by Public Health Solutions that links Medicaid members across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens to housing, transportation, and utility assistance. U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat and City Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu attended to emphasize the necessity of these community-based support systems.

"Families left with more than backpacks," said Zach Hennessey, Chief Strategy Officer at WholeYouNYC. "They walked away connected to long-term resources, from food programs to health coverage, which is the type of whole-person support we aim to provide." ModifyHealth contributed by integrating its food-as-medicine model into the event, aiming to simplify care navigation for residents balancing the demands of the new school year.