FLINT, MI A large health and wellness expo in Flint drew in more than 1,000 people on Saturday to highlight and offer free health and fitness workshops to low-income Flint-area residents.

Flint-area veterans and community members took part in the Community Outreach for Family and Youth's (COFY) health and wellness expo where vendors and volunteers offered an array of services which included dental screening, blood pressure screening, diabetes checks, HIV screening, food giveaways, and care packages for disabled veterans, just to name a few.

The health and wellness expo was held at the New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church. Senior Pastor at the church and COFY CEO, Patrick Sanders said the event was a way to reintroduce COFY to the community and let them know they are there to help.

"It's important to let people know that we do care and we understand that we are all having a difficult time and certainly the community center wanted to say we feel you and we understand." Sanders said. "This is our way of helping, it may not be much but at least it is something that can help them right now."

COFY is a nonprofit organization that works to empower the community through educational, health, fitness, and other community happenings, events, and programs.

Sanders said a large part of the event was to help disabled veterans and make them aware that the COFY organization is there to help.

"A really big part of our event is the disabled veterans to say to those who are longer serving the country that we are here, we are with you in your struggle and this is just a little something to say thank you." Sanders said.

One of the vendors at the event was the Disabled Veterans National Foundation. Volunteers from the foundation handed out care packages to the disabled veterans they saw today.

Doug Walker, program coordinator with Disabled Veterans National Foundation, said the organization heard about the event and thought it would be a great opportunity to come to Flint and visit with area veterans.

The care packages included toothpaste, deodorant, and other essential items. Walker said some veterans also received prescription discount cards.

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Free health screenings, food giveaways, veteran care packages highlight Flint health expo