By Delayna Earley
The Island News
Residents looking for help with health care, legal issues or community resources will have a chance to connect with multiple service providers in one place later this month when a free Health and Legal Services Fair is held in Beaufort.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at the Lowcountry Outreach Center at 80 Lady’s Island Drive. The fair is being organized by Lowcountry Legal Volunteers in partnership with Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic and several other community organizations.
Organizers say the goal is to make it easier for residents to find help with both legal and health-related needs without having to navigate multiple agencies or systems.
“Access to legal help and access to health care are deeply connected,” said Hannah Kidd, medical-legal partnership director and an attorney with Lowcountry Legal Volunteers. “When people can meet with trusted providers in one place — ask questions, learn what resources are available and start the process of getting help — it removes barriers and creates real opportunities for families to move forward.”
Mari Valentín, an AmeriCorps community health worker with Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic, said bringing multiple service providers together can make it easier for residents to understand what help is available.
“When we bring trusted medical and legal partners together in one space, we’re helping neighbors navigate systems that can otherwise feel overwhelming and ensuring they know they are not alone in seeking support,” Valentín said.
The free event will include representatives from a variety of nonprofit organizations, health providers and public agencies. No appointment is required, and Spanish-speaking representatives will be available.
Participating organizations include Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic, the Lowcountry Outreach Center, Child Abuse Prevention Association Beaufort, the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation, Hopeful Horizons, A Father’s Place, Memory Matters, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, South Carolina Legal Services, Med-I-Assist, SC Thrive, Nexus Care of Beaufort County, the Beaufort County Library and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The solicitor’s office will provide information about expungements and its SAFE Program.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital will offer free blood pressure and glucose screenings during the event.
Low-cost cholesterol panels and PSA tests for men will also be available for $10 each, with payment accepted by cash or check.
Refreshments will be provided.
Lowcountry Legal Volunteers is a nonprofit organization that provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties. Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic provides free health care to uninsured adults in Beaufort County.
Residents seeking more information about the event can contact Mari Valentín at 843-470-9088 or Hannah Kidd at 843-815-1570.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.