CANFIELD — Those who venture beyond the alluring smells of the concession stands to stop into the Medical Health Building at the 176th Canfield Fair, may be saving their lives, according to building organizer Karyn Frederick.

“We’re very proud of this building. We’ve been here since Aug. 22 working to get the building ready for the fair,” said Frederick, who’s been visiting the Medical Health Building for 20 years.

A tent was created in 1951 for nonprofit agencies in the Mahoning Valley to speak to community members. In 1972, it got an upgrade to a building where it still stands today.

Thirty displays with representatives from various health care organizations and wellness groups provide information about what their organization does and answers questions about any health care concerns.

Some groups even offer giveaways and chances to win prizes. The Rich Center for Autism is raffling a basket that includes a $25 Applebee’s gift card, $25 Buffalo Wild Wings gift card, $25 Cinemark gift card, $20 Handel’s gift card, popcorn, four boxes of candy and a Home Sweet Home serving tray.

Trumbull Regional Medical Center is hosting a drawing to win a cooler gift basket filled with goodies along with a set of folding chairs. Its drawing is Monday.

Some organizations are offering free health screenings like The Lions Club, which is offering glaucoma screenings to passersby.

The Youngstown State University Nursing Program is on site doing blood pressure checks, which one fairgoer said was an annual tradition for her.

OneHealth Ohio is promoting its new Platinum Health Senior Program.

“We’ve had things happen here that have actually made a difference in people’s lives,” Frederick said. “A few years ago we had a young man that came back to the American Cancer Society table and handed them his cigarettes, telling them he didn’t need them anymore and thanked them for helping him quit,” she said.

A few years ago, another fairgoer stopped by the Corydon Palmer Dental Society to receive one of its dental screenings when Frederick said that during the screening, the dentist recommended the man see an oral surgeon. When the man came back to the medical building a year later, he thanked them because he was able to see a doctor who detected his mouth cancer.

Frederick said the medical health building is among the most traveled on the fairgrounds, noting she sees 200 to 300 visitors daily during the six-day fair.

Displays

These are the organizations that can be found inside the Medical Health Building. All of them will be posted at their booth from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Monday.

Akron Children’s Hospital

Corydon Palmer Dental Society

Mercy Health-Youngstown

Mahoning County Children’s Services

Youngstown State University Nursing Program

Direction Home of Eastern Ohio

Steward Health

Planned Parenthood

Salem Regional Medical Center

University Hospitals

Alzheimer’s Network

Pregnancy Health Center

New Day Recovery

Down Syndrome Association of the Valley

Easterseals

Safe Harbor

Broadway Recovery

Angels for Animals

Lions Club

Diabetes Partnership of the Mahoning Valley

MS Services

Ohio Right to Life

OneHealth Ohio

Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board

The Rich Center for Autism

Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Mahoning Valley Medical Society