Commissioner René García fired up the grills and rolled out the welcome mat for District 13 families with a health twist this weekend, hosting the annual Family Wellness Picnic at Hialeah Park Casino. On Saturday, locals were treated to a day filled with free medical screenings, live entertainment and a spread of complimentary refreshments, courtesy of García’s office and a team of local healthcare providers.

With support from heavy-hitters like Mount Sinai, United Home Health Care, and Florida Blue, the event provided a battery of medical tests — ranging from cardiology, cardiothoracic to urology and oncology. García aims to keep the community in tip top shape, saying, "Good Health is the most important thing we possess," according to a statement on the event's official web page. He stressed the importance of regular checkups for individual and family health, and that's a message he's pushing hard countywide.

The picnic wasn't just a health fair, it was also a community celebration. District 13 families were serenaded with live music, got their fill of eats and drinks all on the house, and even had the chance to snag some raffle winnings. García reminisced about the origin of the picnic and its growth, “It started off with a little picnic event that we used to do in Amelia Earhart Park, just to say thank you. The picnic morphed into this big community event as a way of giving back," as per the Miami-Dade press release. 

García is not just about one-off events; his message extends beyond the park and into the everyday lives of the residents. He's pushing for awareness that health checkups are key to not just personal longevity but familial support structures. "It’s important to make sure you get regular physical checkups, if you are healthy, you can take care of others," García stated, reinforcing the day's underlying objective, according to the press release. 

For more details about the picnic, or inquiries about County resources, the Commissioner’s office has made itself available at 305-820-8424.