Patient First in the Community

It was an Eco Extravaganza in Easton on Sunday, August 18, 2024, and Patient First was part of the action. The Easton Area Chamber of Commerce hosted this event. It was a fun new event for us, and it celebrated ethical eating, eco-consciousness and healthy living. This was a free event that invited locals to come check out the excitement at Scott Park for a day full of food, music, wellness, vendors and more. The venue was amazing - situated right along the Lehigh River. Renowned boxer Larry Holmes, an Easton native, is the namesake for the park. He was world heavyweight champion from 1978 until 1985 and is often considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.

The event attracted people from all over the Lehigh Valley, as well as New Jersey and New York,. We had so much fun chatting with folks, providing free blood pressure checks, answering lots of questions, and of course providing a whole array of Patient First giveaway items.

The main stage provided musical entertainment all day. It was fun to see people participating in yoga activities, and we enjoyed visits from a variety of event participated who came by with their pets as it was a pet-friendly and family-friendly event. Several food trucks and special treat vendors satisfied event goers, as well.

We really enjoy Chamber of Commerce sponsored events like these, and participate as much as our booking schedule allows. We are already looking forward to what is next in the Lehigh Valley!

On Saturday, August 10th, the campus of Harrisburg Area Community College was alive with the sights, sounds, and enticing smells that made up the annual India Day celebration! Organized by the Asian Indian Americans of Central Pennsylvania, this rich celebration of culture and heritage draws several thousand people from across the region. For a third year, Patient First has been happy to participate in this event!

After a serious storm blew through on Friday, which saw a tornado touch down in the Harrisburg area, there were concerns over the possibility of having the event at all this year. Fortunately, as the clouds passed through overnight, some absolutely gorgeous weather greeted us in the morning and lasted throughout the day.

The day kicked off with a parade showcasing the multitude of organizations within the local Indian community of central Pennsylvania. It continued with a wide variety of dancing, traditional dress parades, and music featured on the main stage, as well as a host of vendors and amazing food choices.

As always, our Patient First table was a very popular spot for people to come and visit. Most of the people we spoke with had been patients at either our Mechanicsburg or Colonial Park centers, but a few had traveled up from as far south as Glen Burnie and Bowie. Our yo-yo;s were a huge hit with the kids, while the magnetic clips seemed to be the big item among the adults.

This is one of the biggest cultural events that we attend each year in central PA, and this year did not disappoint. We're already looking forward to returning!

Musikfest is the largest annual event in the Lehigh Valley, and once again we were able to be part of the fun! This 10-day August event is the country's largest free music festival, and it generally draws more than 1 million people to Bethlehem, PA annually. Locals love this event because it provides 10 days of great music, with enough variety to appeal to everybody; and, it also provides a huge economic impact to the city and the entire Lehigh Valley area since it attracts people from all over Pennsylvania, many of our nearby states and others from near and far. We opened the event on the first day this year - preview day - and it drew nearly 7,000 ticketed guests for the evening's headliner performance.

Although we are only there for a single, day, organizers always go above and beyond to be accommodating and welcoming to us, and this year was no different. Thanks to our friends there, we were set up in a prime location to be seen by and interact with concert goers. We were right along the walkway to the big evening concert which was so much fun!

We received many praises about the quality of our care, and for always being available to patients seven days a week including weekends and holidays on a walk-in basis, no appointments necessary

As always, we were happy to provide complimentary blood pressure checks for a steady stream of adult Fest-goers who stopped by our tent on event day. Our give-away items were also a big hit. We shall definitely return again next year as this has become one of our favorite "legacy" events over the years. Kassie Hilgert, the organization's President and CEO and her team of event organizers are great to work with; and, they always help us by providing easy access to our set-up location, and convenient parking nearby. This location also hosts the Christkindlmarkt and PeepsFest events, which we also generally build into our booking schedule each year.

On Saturday, July 28th Patient First rode into the Harford County Equestrian Center to participate in the final day of the Harford County Farm Fair. This week-long event celebrates the rich agricultural history of Harford County and works to ensure its future.

Focusing on the work of agricultural organizations like the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the Harford County 4-H, this event showcases the efforts of farmers young and old, through livestock shows, auctions, and equestrian events.

In addition to these events, the fair featured a variety of live bands, inflatable playgrounds, a straw maze, pig races, as well as pie and watermelon eating contests. In lieu of fireworks, the final two nights of the fair culminated in a loud and impressive tractor pull!

Our Patient First table and tent were very busy, as people came by not just to share their appreciation for the care they received primarily at our Bel Air and Aberdeen centers, but also to receive the free blood pressure checks we offered.

Overall, our first year working with this event was a great success, and we look forward to coming out again in 2025!

On Sunday, July 21st, the Bowie Baysox, the AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles honored first responders with its annual Hero's Day, and for the first time, Patient First was the proud presenting sponsor for the day!

This inaugural event sponsorship further deepens our ties with the Baysox, on top of having been in the managing organization of the stadium's First Aid station for years.

As the presenting sponsor for Hero's Day, we were afforded a pair of digital billboards on the team's massive scoreboard, two between-inning ad reads by the Baysox PA announcer, a 4x4 banner displayed at the main gate crediting us as the Hero's Day sponsor, an on-air interview during the game on the team's radio partner, WNAV, and participation in the pre-game first pitch ceremony.

Dr. Delbert Morales, the regional medical director for DC and Northern Virginia was given the honor of the first pitch ceremony, and threw a very respectable toss to the catcher. Not a bounce to be found! A lengthy third inning provided us with an extensive interview segment, during which Dr. Morales informed the audience on how to stay cool not just in the stands, but in general during these dog days of summer. He also emphasized Patient First's pride in being a partner with the Baysox, and the community that we serve.

As usual, our table was a popular destination for the crowd, most of whom were patients from the Bowie, Glen Burnie and Odenton centers, though some had experiences with us from as far south as Richmond, as as far north as Aberdeen. Patient First is happy to be in league with the Baysox, and we look forward to a long and continued partnership with the organization!

The Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites organization hosted its 37th annual Blueberry Festival at the beautiful Burnside Plantation, and Patient First was once again part of the fun of all things blueberry. We have participated in this event several times over the years, and were delighted to return again this year. Although Mother Nature threatened to deliver thunderstorms all weekend during the event, she was wrong. Instead of rain we got dry air and blistering heat, which made the blueberry pie and blueberry ice cream taste extra special. Although the overall foot traffic was down a bit this year (most likely due to the extreme heat), we enjoyed a steady flow of visits to our tent on both days of this weekend event. 

As always, we provided complimentary blood pressure checks and a variety a great give away items. It is always nice to see the organization's President and CEO, LoriAnn Wukitsch, and this year was no exception. She made a point to drop by our tent for a visit and to thank us for participating in this event once again. So many visitors from all over the Lehigh Valley and beyond stopped by and shared stories of their positive visits to our centers. In fact, one of the early visitors to our tent set the mood for our entire first day. She approached us with a big smile and an "I Love Patient First" greeting. She raved about several visits to our nearby Bethlehem center and sang praises for the center's Medical Director who has treated her several times during the past year.

Each year this event features crafters, artists and vendors of all types, live entertainment on two stages, contests, games and activities and so much more. Of course a variety of fresh blueberry pie, strudel and coffee cake and all kinds of other edible treats featuring blueberries were a highlight of the event. Proceeds from this event help Historic Bethlehem maintain 20 historic landmarks in Bethlehem. This organization also hosts the annual "Apple Days" event at the same location, and we are looking forward to returning for that this Fall!

This past weekend, we had an incredible time at the 32nd Annual Barbecue Battle in Washington, D.C. Despite the heat, our first event in the nation's capital was a huge success. The Barbecue Battle, which started in 1993, has grown significantly, closing down the largest strip of downtown into early Monday morning. The event featured 150 food samples and numerous beverage samples, offering plenty of free food and drinks for attendees.

In addition to the delicious food, the two-day event hosted two stages for music and performances, as well as a thrilling Olympians and Monster BMX exhibition. The barbecue competition was fierce, with winners taking home $5,000. 

Our hand sanitizer was in high demand. Visitors from Massachusetts, Florida, Columbia, Iowa, and even Spain stopped by our booth. We were thrilled to inform them that they could visit any of our centers if they needed medical attention while in the area. We were delighted to reconnect with previous patients from our Maryland centers in Germantown, Glen Burnie, Bowie, Clinton, Waldorf, Rockville, Owings Mills, and Capitol Heights. We also met visitors from our Virginia centers in Alexandria, Manassas, Springfield, Woodbridge, and Garrisonville, who had nothing but positive feedback about their experiences.

Overall, our first event in D.C. was a resounding success, and we look forward to returning next year.

For over 120 years, the Towson Chamber of Commerce has hosted its annual 4th of July Parade in front of crowds of flag waving spectators. Just as it has for over a decade now, Patient First has been a proud sponsor of this celebration of our nation's birth!

This year 15 staffers from as near as Towson and as far as Germantown came out to represent Patient First as we waved and greeted the cheering fans lined up along the parade route. As we travelled up and down the York Road corridor, we were spurred on by the shouts of people saying how much they loved Patient First, and how we've helped them through some particularly tough times.

This year's participation matches a record for participation! We look forward to seeing how many people we can get to walk with us in 2025!

This past Saturday, Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg came alive with the vibrant spirit of SummerFest, a long standing tradition where the Gaithersburg community gathers to celebrate American Independence with friends and family. The free event ran form 6pm to 11pm, featuring live music, food trucks and kids activities, all culminating in a spectacular fireworks display and a night glow after party.

The weather was perfect for the festivities, with a beautiful sunny day and temperatures around 90F. It was wonderful to meet so many new faces, including residents from Germantown and Aspen Hill. We also the pleasure of reconnecting with previous patients from our Rockville and Germantown locations, who had nothing but praise for our front office staff. 

Our booth was a hit, especially our chip clips and hand sanitizers, which were among the most requested items. SummerFest is one of the largest and most enjoyable events in Gaithersburg, and we always look forward to being a part of it. We can't wait to return next year for more fun and community engagement.

On Friday, June 21, we had an exciting evening at Bowie Baysox stadium during their "Don't Discuss Bruno" night, inspired by the movie Encanto. Positioned right outside the first aid station, our table was a popular stop for fans, who shared wonderful feedback about our centers. Our Baseball stress balls were a big hit among the attendees.

Although the Baysox didn't win the game, the post-game fireworks brought smiles to everyone's faces and lifted the spirits of the crowd. We had a fantastic time at the stadium and can't wait to return for another event!