Westside Church combines food, health services

Westside Family Fellowship Church held its monthly farmer's market on Thursday, serving over 1,200 people and distributing 15,256 pounds of produce, bread and canned goods – and 2,100 pounds of whole chickens.

A special feature of the event was a drive-thru flu clinic, sponsored by Dignity Health. The Wasco Woman's Club also participated, with members volunteering in honor of the General Federal of Woman's Clubs' National Day of Service.

Jessica Manzo, a health services coordinator with Dignity Health, explained the purpose of the drive-thru flu clinic. "It's completely free. We're not asking for any insurance or identification. As long as participants are 18 years and older, they can receive their vaccination for free."

Manzo emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated annually. "The CDC recommends receiving the flu vaccine during the months of September through October. We target everyone, but we focus on specific groups, such as pregnant women or individuals with underlying conditions. Our overall goal is to reduce the spread of influenza and prevent any serious complications that may arise this season."

Nurse Lisa Harding further highlighted the benefits of the flu vaccine. "Getting vaccinated reduces your chances of contracting the flu by 50 to 60%. For those who do get the flu, their symptoms are typically less severe. Untreated flu can lead to serious complications like sepsis, which is the most expensive condition treated in hospitals worldwide. The flu vaccine not only helps prevent the flu itself but also reduces the risk of sepsis, which can be life-threatening if left untreated."

Manzo noted that the drive-thru clinic helps overcome barriers for community members. "If they don't have transportation, they can get their vaccine while picking up food. And if they don't have insurance, it's not an issue for us since we don't require it."

Alice Nunez, who received her flu shot at the event, expressed her gratitude. "I don't go to the doctor often, and today they were giving it for free. It was painless. I loved it and thank God for this. I attend this church, and it's fantastic they're doing this."

Many attendees also shared their thoughts on the church's farmer's market. Matilde Reyes, who regularly attends, remarked, "The situation is very tough. It's the economy. I've come here several times, and it helps a lot because you save money for the following week. It really helps with groceries."

She continued, "It means a lot because we're a family of five, and even though I work, I don't get many hours. Everything is so expensive-insurance, food, my car, car insurance, medicine, all the household bills. All my kids still live at home. We live paycheck to paycheck, and the expenses are really high. This food is a big help, and I'm very grateful to the church."

Cristina Traslavena shared her story, saying, "I'm not working because I have cancer, and only my husband is working. The situation is difficult, and we need to find other help. I was on disability, but my benefits ran out in May. Thank God I'm cancer-free now, but there are still costs to worry about, and food is one of them. That's why I come here."

Adolfo Espinoso echoed similar sentiments, stating, "The community needs this. Sometimes, what you earn just isn't enough. This is very valuable for the town."

The Wasco Woman's Club members were proud to volunteer for the event. Co-president Petra Rueda said, "I loved it. It was very rewarding to be involved, to volunteer and to serve my community. Seeing everyone come through to receive the food donated by CAPK was heartwarming. Greeting families and seeing them happy and grateful was really nice. Everything ran smoothly, and it was well-organized."

Club member Marta Poe, participating for the first time, added, "It felt great to be able to help people in need. We had people from Shafter, McFarland and Bakersfield. Some parents even recognized me from my years working at the high school, and they knew I was here representing the Woman's Club and supporting the General Federation of Women's Clubs National Day of Service."

Pastor Johnny Martinez of Westside Family Fellowship Church shared his thoughts on the event. "We love this because we're able to meet a vital need in our community. This month, we were fortunate to also offer flu shots thanks to Dignity Health. We aim to help in every aspect-health, emotional well-being, and spiritual support, as we prayed for them today. It's always great to see not just our congregation but the entire community come together to help."

He added, "I pray before we start that we radiate the love of God and greet people with a good attitude and friendly voice. 95% of the people who come are Hispanic. Many are people who are out of work or senior citizens. Not everyone is willing to wait three to four hours in line. I've come at 4 a.m. to get things ready, and people are here already, so that just shows how much they need these provisions. We're so grateful to our partners CAPK and Wonderful for all they provide."