There's help. Just keep looking

Are you one of the at least 40 million people in the U.S. without health care? Do you feel yourself sliding toward foreclosure? Are you nervous about how you'll pay the heating bills this winter?

Who among us in this ravaged economy doesn't have some financial concerns?

There's help. You just have to look for it.

If any of the aforementioned questions have been nagging at you, you can do some one-stop shopping to, if not cure what ails you, at least give you some ideas on how to set yourself on a better course. Take, for instance, the offerings just this Saturday in the Fox Valley:

• The Tri-City Health Partnership is working with the Salvation Army and Geneva's Delnor-Community Hospital to put on a health fair that offers a variety of free services and screenings provided by 21 local agencies. You can get your blood pressure checked, get screened for depression, colorectal cancer, osteoporosis and HIV. And flu and pneumonia shots for cost.

"The fair is important; because for those without health insurance, or with limited financial resources, it may be the one time a year that many local residents have the opportunity to access an array of health-care services in one place at no cost," said Shannon Watson, executive director of Tri City Health Partnership.

There is no pre-qualifying or geographical restrictions. "If you show up in a fur coat, you will be seen," she said.

The fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Salvation Army, 1710 S. Seventh Ave., St. Charles. For details, call (630) 377-9277.

• If your concern is buying, maintaining or protecting your home from foreclosure, visit Homeownership Expo 2008, a free event that will help first-time homebuyers navigate the process and also provide advice on how to hold onto the home you already have. It lasts from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at East Aurora High School's Freshman Center, Fifth Avenue and Smith Boulevard. For details, call (630) 906-9400.

• The second Renewable Energy Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. You'll find workshops, exhibits and demonstrations on energy efficient and environmentally friendly products. For details, call (630) 466-7900, ext. 2360 or visit waubonsee.edu/communityed.

This is just one day in one corner of the Fox Valley. There are other opportunities elsewhere in the suburbs: If you live in Lake County you can get tax assessment help Oct. 23 in Waukegan, get your kids immunized in at reduced or no cost, depending on your situation, on the second Saturday of each month, and get a variety of free health screenings in several locations around the county (see lfh.org). In DuPage County, there is a senior and caregivers fair Friday at the county fairgrounds, and you can apply for a Habitat For Humanity home Sunday in Bloomingdale.

Organizers often tell us they'd like to see more people take advantage of such programs. We would, too. If you have worries, there's help.