JACKSON — Northampton County Manager Wayne Jenkins believes the county’s employees are among its most valuable resources and told them so Friday at a county-sponsored safety and wellness fair just for them.

Jacqueline Hough | The Daily Herald The Northampton County Health Department had free cholesterol and blood sugar checks at its table during the first Northampton County Employee Safety and Wellness Fair. Licensed Practical Nurse Connie Nunnally, right, checks Bonnie Boone’s cholesterol. Advertisement

“We have invested in your health,” he said. “And this event demonstrates that commitment. It is an opportunity for you to invest in your health. This is the first time but will not be the last time.”

Open to the county employees, the fair had more than 60 vendors who offered a variety of activities including interactive fitness demonstrations about yoga and Wii bowling, free health screenings such as cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, lung function and safety demonstrations.

It was the kickoff to Northampton County’s Wellness at Work program. There were two guest speakers — Dr. Goldie S. Byrd of North Carolina A&T State University and Carole Netherton of the Alzheimer’s Association.

County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert V. Carter said one of the goals of the board is to encourage and promote health and wellness for employees.

“It will result in improved health for the employees, lower health insurance rates for the county and government savings for the taxpayers,” he said.

There were also presentations on home safety awareness, credit and credit repair and taking care of one’s health naturally.

When Tasha Alston first arrived at the event, she headed for a table where BoHo the Clown had set up for face painting. She decided to get initials of her fiancé on her face. “It’s a stress reliever,” she said.

Former Northampton County Office on Aging Director Susan Jones Skinner was a vendor at the event. Now with Continuum Home Care & Hospice, she was with the county from 1996-2000. Skinner saw the fair as an opportunity to provide education and resources about hospice care. “This event is phenomenal,” she said. “The greatest resource in Northampton County is the people.”

It shows how much the county commissioners and leaders support the employees, she added. “And from a social work standpoint, it is treating the person as a whole. Any efforts to encompass the physical, emotional and spiritual is good,” she added.

As Lavern A. Harris, an employee in the Register of Deeds office, waited for a session on yoga to begin she talked about how great the event was. “There is some good stuff here,” she said. “A lot of interesting programs and people.”

Some of her favorite booths were sleep apnea and getting her blood pressure and blood sugar checked.

Brenda Bracey, chief operation officer for the Gregory B. Davis Foundation, had a table set with information about the foundation and health. “I think it’s great because it provides information and services to county employees.”

Northampton County Human Resources Director Marcenda Rogers was very pleased with turnout from vendors and employees and thought it was a wonderful way to kickoff the program.

“It is going wonderfully,” she said. “I think the employees are really pleased.

County Commissioner Virginia Spruill thought it was great initiative for the employees. “It encourages them to stay healthy,” she said. “I hope we will take to heart all that we have seen and continue to emphasize wellness.”