Rural Mobile Medical Unit Health and Wellness Initiative 2026

For the past eight years SILC staff member Judy Wroda developed programs that reach the most rural populations in our county. Our rural population consists of homeless persons, very low income families, elderly, those who are medically fragile, our various Amish communities, and others. Eight years ago, Judy developed the Family, School and Community Connections Symposium. This annual event is held at Brocton Central School, Brocton, NY and is an all day event in which Judy pulls together Supporters of our Communities (Service Providers) and opens the doors of the school to all persons who would like to connect with agencies that can assist them with their needs. The event is free to attend as Judy recognizes the financial challenges most of our rural families live with. The providers also do not have to pay as she also recognizes the restraints on agencies when it comes to having funds to pay for their attendance at a conference. The speakers are all volunteers and have shared information and education on a wide variety of topics such as trafficking and rescuing trafficked children, elder abuse, assisting children who live with a disability in their educational journey, veterans health issues and how to get immediate assistance, hunger, homelessness, surviving a life of abuse, generational poverty, rural health disparities and assistance, and so much more. The first event hosted 25 providers and had an attendance of about 110. The event has grown substantially to last years stats reading 80 providers representing 94 programs with an attendance of 369 persons! For the past two years, Judy has introduced her Rural Mobile Medical Unit Health and Wellness Initiative and invited medical professionals to the event to assist our more rural areas and students for the day. We had free medical services provided by Erie Retina Research, UPMC, AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital, The Chautauqua Center mobile unit (they also utilized the nurses station for dental care), Oishie Children's, the Erie PA Vet Center (mental Health unit), NY Veteran's Administration mobile unit, GLPP Physical Therapy, WNY Urology, Roswell Cancer Center, and several insurance providers on site to assist with enrollment, along with all of the other providers (a list will be given upon request) who were on site assisting persons throughout the day, including BOCES Nursing students. During this event, Brocton School offers a free breakfast to all attendees and their staff and basketball team assists in setting up, assisting visitors throughout the event, and tearing down after the event!

This year there are plans to involve student from all Chautauqua County schools with a health and wellness challenge for various age groups that will involve mental health challenges as well as physical wellness challenges! There will be "awards" given to participating schools with a travelling trophy (dependent on funds) given to the school who had the most participants and success with the challenges. These challenges will be designed and monitored by the schools resource officers! We are getting everyone involved in this initiative! Also new this year is the introduction of participation by the University at Buffalo (various health programs, nursing students, support with technical aspects such as QR codes, physicians as our guest speakers, virtual assistance, etc.) - we are very excited that U at Buffalo recognizes the needs in our more rural counties and communities and are looking forward to their participation in the events!

Up until about 2 years ago, Judy would utilize her own funds for things that were needed for the events, but the events have grown so much that she began searching for sponsors. For the past couple of years she has had a few agencies who were able to help with funds, but she has been notified that this year they are unable to do so. With the event now reaching so many schools (in Chautauqua, Erie, Allegany, Cattaraugus counties in NY and Warren and Erie counties in PA), families, students, elders, veterans, persons living wiht a disability, we are needing help (sponsors) who are able to support the event and ensure those who want to attend and get assistance in any form offered, can do so without the worry of money being involved.

This main event is always held in March with at least two other events held in varying rural communities in Chautauqua County during the year. These other two events do not host speakers but do offer Judy's Rural Mobile Medical Unit Health and Wellness Initiative event - offering free medical ( mental health and physical health ) services to those who attend. The 2025 event, titled "Together, We Can!" won an award from NYS School Board Association for its reach and purpose, designating Brocton Central School as a unique innovator and supporter of our students and families in the state of NY: https://www.post-journal.com/news/community/2025/11/school-boards-associ...

Judy utilizes the sponsors funds for advertising, table and chair rental, free hygiene products (feminine products, soap, tooth brushes and toothpaste, body soap, shampoo, etc) free household cleaning products, free food items to those attending as well as some other special things that may be in need at the time ( such as clothing for the little ones-usually cute sweat tops and bottoms, diapers, etc.). There are also a few door prizes given through a drawing at the end of the day.

This event attempts to reach as many as possible during the one day it is held at Brocton Central school and the two other events during the year. Judy's direction is to keep the event free for all so it is more accessible/obtainable to those who wish to attend, but to do this we need help. Last year we needed approximately $7,000 to cover all expenses and have items to give to those who attended, and this year, given the growth we have experienced these past 8 years, we are anticipating a need for $10,000.

If you are able to help make these event possible in 2026, your kindness and generosity would be so very much appreciated. You will be acknowledged in any advertisements, social media posts and with banners placed throughout the event. If we are able to schedule a televised interview ( as we have done the past two years 0 with Chautauqua Sunrise, you or your agency will be invited to come and share your thoughts if your would like to do so - we will acknowledge you and your efforts to help sustain this outreach to our most vulnerable populations residing in our more rural areas.

Thank you for taking time to read this and for your consideration of this request. Miss Judy Wroda - Southwestern Independent Living Center, Inc. 716 450 3960 cell / 716 661 3010 office