Patient First in the Community

A gorgeous weekend and clear, cloudless skies provided a picture perfect setting for this year's Baltimore Fleet Week and Flyover event at the Inner Harbor. This marked Patient First's first year taking part in the celebration of the U.S. Navy, with a booth set up on Friday, September 9th, and Saturday, September 10th.

This event drew a wide range of tourists, given the fact of Baltimore's draw as a tourist city, the fact that the Orioles were in town playing it's division rival Boston Red Sox, and that the event drew families of Navy sailors from across the country, there to see their sons and daughters. People came to our table from as far away as Georgia, Connecticut, Mississippi, Missouri, and Florida, just to name a few.

The weekend itself was quite the spectacle, with a variety of planes flying overhead at various points in the day, including F-18 fighters creating sonic booms, and impressive ocean going vessels like the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and a Danish tall ship. All of our volunteers who turned out to support our sponsorship had a great time seeing the sights, and interacting with our customers, and the organizers were very helpful in meeting our needs. It was a rewarding day for everyone!

It's the unofficial sendoff to  summer, and tens of thousands of people took part in the fun at the Maryland State Fair at the Timonium Fairgrounds the weekend of September 3rd & 4th. This was Patient First's first year participating in this 141 year tradition, and by all accounts it was a resounding success!

Positioned right at the mouth of the midway, our Patient First was the first thing to greet the more than 100 thousand  who passed through the turnstiles. Fairgoers loaded their Patient First bags with hand sanitizer, band-aids, hot/cold packs, pens, post-it's, along with wooden planes and yo-yo's for the kids right out of the gate as they began their day. The event attracted patients from as far south as Fairfax, VA, and York, PA to the north. Nearly everyone who stopped by were familiar with both our brand and our services, and had wonderful things to say about our staff.

In addition to having a prime greeting spot at the entrance, Patient First was also the official sponsor of the fairground's nine permanent hand washing stations, and 11 mobile hand washing stations, scattered across the 100 acres of the property. These signs will remain at the facility throughout the year, and visible to everyone who attends the variety of events held at the fairgrounds well into 2023. We are also prominently featured on a sign above the exit to the popular 4H Exhibition Hall.

The staff and organizers at the fair couldn't have been nicer, and more accommodating, and we certainly look forward to working with them again in the future!

It's been a good summer for the Baltimore Orioles and their AA farm system team, the Bowie Baysox, and Patient First is proud to be a part of these two winning seasons. In addition to running the first aid center for every Baysox home game, Friday August 19th, and Friday August 26th completed our six-game showcasing events for Patient First at the games.

Not only did the Baysox entertain the crowds by winning each of their games (the first in a tense, extra innings showdown), each night was capped off with a dazzling fireworks display, and an opportunity to let kids run the bases.

Over the course of both nights, we saw hundreds of people, and gave out hundreds of promotional items, including hand sanitizer, band-aids, magnet clips, pens, paper, and the ever-popular hot/cold packs. Throughout each event, our brand awareness was strong, with every single person who stopped by not only familiar with, but a fan of the service we provide our patients. Congratulations to the Baysox as they continue their run to the playoffs, and we look forward to joining them again next season! 

From the sights of brightly colored saris, the smell of mouth-watering curry and masala spices, and the sounds of Bollywood pop, it was a feast for the senses at the HACC campus in Harrisburg, PA for the celebration of India Day 2022. After a two year pandemic-forced hiatus, this festival returned in force, showcasing the depth and breadth of Indian history and culture, coupled this year with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence.

Anchored by a wide variety of restaurant booths and Indian clothing vendors, the main strip of the festival was also the site of a dazzling parade, representing many of the varied ethnicities making up the Asian Indian-American community. The main stage was at the end of the parade route, featuring dance performances, singers and a student robotics exhibition. There was even a flash mob, featuring 40 participants!

This was Patient First's first year participating in this event, which was held just five miles away from our Harrisburg center, and roughly 13 miles from our Mechanicsburg center. All in all, it was a big success, bringing us in contact with more than 4,000 attendees, and an event we look forward to coming back to next year!

After rain earlier in the year forced it to be rescheduled, it truly was the Dog Days of Summer at Upper Providence Dog Park in Phoenixville, PA this past Saturday. Despite the name, the weather was perfect for this event, bringing so many people and their pets out for a morning of games, activities, and information about our four legged friends. Located between our Collegeville, Pottstown, and Devon centers, this event drew people as far away as Lancaster!

Upper Providence Township and the Spring-Ford Chamber of Commerce brought this event to the community and they did not disappoint. Along with their "fur babies," crowds of people from all over the area visited a number of vendors, as well as rescue organizations who were on site for the day. We had so many good, positive conversations during the day from those who've used our services from all across the region. We always love making those community connections!

Mother Nature was very cooperative! We experienced probably the best weather we've had for an outdoor event this summer so far-- warm, sunny, and dry. No scorching heat, and no rain! A true winner of a day, in all regards!

The sounds of bagpipes, the sight of kilts and tartan, and the smell of corned beef & cabbage were everywhere at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds Saturday, July 16th, for the Annapolis Irish Festival. More than 8,000 people braved the heat and threat of severe weather to hear the bands, taste the food, play the games, and purchase all things Irish.

Our Patient First tent was set up within 25 yards of the entrance, giving us the opportunity to interact with virtually every fairgoer. From as far north as Aberdeen to as far south as Germantown, nearly everyone in attendance knew the work we do, and had glowing things to say about the quality of our service.

Unfortunately, the luck of the Irish ran out just before 6pm, as a powerful storm came through and literally washed away some tents. Despite the soaking, our staff hung in there, making this a positive experience for everyone!

It was picture perfect weather for a Fourth of July parade in Towson, MD Monday morning, as the city sponsored a tradition that has carried on for over 120 years.

Seven staff members from the Patient First center in Towson, just a mile and a half up the road from the parade route, participated in the event. They carried our banner and waved to the crowd, who frequently shouted their appreciation and thanks to us for the service we provide the community.

Before we knew it, we finished the length of the parade, and everyone involved said they wholly enjoyed the experience. We look forward to participating again next year!

On Saturday, June 25th, the stretch of Ebenezer Road in front of Perry Hall High School served as the site for this year's Perry Hall Town Fair. Several thousand people braved the heat and humidity to support local businesses and craftspersons, as well as entertain the kids with attractions like a butterfly feeding tent, horseback riding, and a laser tag course under the trees on school grounds.

Patient First's tent drew plenty of people all eager to take home our hot/cold packs and other promotional items, and all of whom had nothing but positive comments about our Perry Hall center just down the road. One woman virtually waxed rhapsodic, telling us how much of an invaluable community service we're providing. It's a service our staff is happy to provide, and an event in which Patient First is happy to participate!

On Sunday, June 19th, 8 blocks of Water Street in downtown Lancaster, PA became a pedestrian walkway in the form of Open Streets Lancaster. Sponsored by Lancaster Rec, the City of Lancaster, and Lancaster Bikes!, this event aims to encourage physical activity, a healthy lifestyle, and positive mental health.

Patrons could walk the streets and sample food, listen to a variety of musical artists set up along several blocks, shop from local vendors, and learn about a variety of non-profit services that are available for those in the Lancaster community.

Patient First's tent was located near the temporary skateboard park, which became quite a draw for spectators. We heard from several patients who recounted how our center on nearby Oregon Pike helped them when they needed urgent care. Patient First has been a participant in this event for several years, and we look forward to doing so in the years to come.

On Saturday, June 18th, the fields in front of The Markets at Shrewsbury were transformed into a veritable recreation of the Emerald Isle, for the 20th Penn-Mar Irish Festival.

The sounds of bagpipes, drums, and cloggers, along with the sight of flat caps, kilts and tartan surrounded the 6,000 people who attended this event, traveling from as far as Pittsburgh, Annapolis, and even North Carolina. Two performance stages entertained the guests throughout the day, while traditional Irish fare was served in the food truck court, and four Irish Wolfhounds were led around the grounds, to the delight of many.

The winds were as gusty as on the fields of Donegal County, creating some drama for some of the vendors who either lost their tents, or gave up their cover after a few close calls.

In addition to being a first-time vendor, Patient First also sponsored the shuttle bus that ferried the crowds from a satellite parking lot to the gates, just a few steps away from our booth. In addition to being greeted by patients from both Pennsylvania and Maryland, we also received several inquiries from people outside our territories, in western Pennsylvania and western Maryland.

This was a very fun afternoon, and we look forward to participating in future years.