2nd Annual Marquette County Community Resource Fair to be Offered “Express Style”

Note: This press release was updated 6/11/2020 due to a change in how traffic will flow for individuals attending the fair. See the map below for details.

Marquette, Mich. – Citizens of Marquette County are invited to join Upper Peninsula Health Plan and Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions for the second annual Marquette County Community Resource Fair, taking place Friday, June 19, in Marquette. Due to the current pandemic and the need to adhere to social distancing guidelines, this year’s event will be held in a drive-through “Express Style” in the parking lot of Lakeview Arena.

Free and open to the public, the fair will connect residents with resources from local organizations that are available to assist and support their day-to-day health and social needs. Informational handouts will be distributed in tote bags, along with essential items such as thermometers, hand sanitizer, masks, and more. The Feeding America Mobile Food Truck will also be onsite again this year.

“Now more than ever, people need help,” said UPHP Chief Executive Officer Melissa Holmquist. “There are a lot of people who have lost their jobs and livelihood as a result of the pandemic, and may be unaware of the community resources available to help them. We hope this event will help make that connection, and provide people with the goods and services they need to get through this difficult time.”

Individuals planning to attend should get in line for the event by entering into the Northern Michigan University Berry Events Center parking lot via the Fair Avenue/3rd Street entrance. From there, traffic will flow through the Berry parking lot, across Pine Street, and then behind Lakeview Arena where the food truck will be parked and resource bags will be distributed. Attendees should exit the arena parking lot onto Fair Avenue. Although the drive-through method is preferred, individuals without vehicles will be allowed to walk through the event, following social distancing guidelines of maintaining a six-foot distance from others. Masks are strongly encouraged.

Additionally, several volunteers will be onsite to help direct traffic and distribute the food and resource bags, and will be taking every precaution to make this event as safe as possible.

“We understand this is not the ideal format for this event,” said Holmquist. “But, as in many other scenarios since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have had to be flexible and creative in bringing the event to the public safely, and we’re excited to still offer it, albeit in a scaled-down capacity. We look forward to helping our community.”

Event Information:

When:  June 19, 2020, from noon to 2 p.m.

Where: Lakeview Arena Parking Lot
401 East Fair Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. NO REGISTRATION/TICKETS REQUIRED.