Missoula Public Health will offer a variety of free services during the first-ever East Missoula People’s Fair this Saturday, Nov. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at ReStore, located at 3655 Hwy 200 E.
Residents are invited to shop for handmade goods from a variety of local vendors, view the work of 10 local artists who will compete for cash prizes during the East Missoula Art Challenge, enjoy live music from local musician Bob Wire and receive a free haircut from Lady J’s Barbershop.
Staff members from Missoula Public Health will be on site to offer free Narcan, gunlocks, medication lockboxes and tobacco cessation products. Staff will be available to talk about disaster preparedness, signing up for emergency alerts and accessing nutrition services, such as WIC and the Diabetes Prevention Program. MPH nurses will offer flu and COVID immunizations. Anyone wanting a vaccine is asked to bring a photo ID and their insurance card. A sliding fee scale will be available for those without insurance.
“The main theme of the fair is building community in a do-it-yourself way and educating ourselves to empower neighbors,” said Richard Fifield, a community activist who helped organize the event. “The art competition and the vendors are tied into that theme —making the most of what we already have, and learning to see the possibilities in things we take for granted. ReStore was our bridge — people can buy used materials at affordable prices to build something. We want to build an empowered community that has access to the tools to create relationships and create communication. Our best resource is our people, and that will never change.”
People are invited to celebrate, home, health and humanity during this public community event. 10% of vendor sales will be donated to the East Missoula Community Garden.
