The smell of Mexican food and sounds of trumpet music filled the air outside the Bremer Student Center of Olympic College’s Bremerton campus Aug. 29.

It was no ordinary fiesta, however. The event marked the Immigrant Assistance Center’s first-ever Summer Health and Resource Fair.

“It is great to see this,” said Rick MacLennan, vice president of student services for Olympic College. “We are a community school and events like this give us a chance to really be part of our community.”

The event featured informational booths from many community service providers as well as entertainment, vendors, food and even basic health services.

Juan Pena, from Los Cabos Mexican restaurant, served up tamales, enchiladas, Mexican rice and refried beans while traditional Mexican music was performed by La Consentida. Sandra Maqueda, from Spanish station El Rey, emceed the event, gave away prizes and auctioned off a Mexican painting, proceeds of which went to support IAC.

Peninsula Community Health had an informational booth at the fair and the University of Washington agreed to provide medical tests at the event as well, but at the last minute UW was unable to send a doctor to interpret medical tests, although they did send staff members to conduct the tests.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” May said. “But I called Sea Mar and they came out on one day’s notice.”

Sea Mar Community Health Center, a Seattle-based private nonprofit, provides health, housing, family and legal support to a large Latino client base. Sea Mar serves more than 83,000 people a year at offices and clinics around Washington.

Jorge Madrazo, former Seattle Mexican Consul and current vice president of community relations for Sea Mar, said he and his group were happy to fill in.

“We are doing blood pressure testing, glucose screening, offering information on quitting smoking and other health information,” he said. “We are passionate about helping the community and were able to respond to this SOS.”

Jonathan Chenoweth, a student at the UW’s school of pharmacy, was on hand to help with the blood pressure testing.

Other local non-profits were available to provide information and services, including hair cuts provided by Salvation Army volunteer Brenda Winslowe.

“Something as simple as a hair cut can make a big difference in people’s lives,” Winslowe said. “It can give a person a little boost to their self-esteem.”

Edit note: This article was edited Sept. 24 to correct a mistake regarding the absence of Peninsula Community Health from the event. PCH was in fact present at the fair.