The 5th annual Children's Health and Safety Fair brought the community together on Saturday and Memorial Hospital Los Ba&#241;os Marketing Coordinator Diane Hambley said she couldn't have been happier with the outcome.</p><p>"The community really pulled together to put this event on," Hambley said. "We had really good attendance and the exhibitors all came through. It's all about the kids and everyone just really poured their heart out into the event."</p><p>Hambley said the event took nearly a year to plan, but for the three-hour event, all the work was worth it.</p><p>"Everyone pitching in was so wonderful to see," she said. "The community supporting the hospital's mission to keep everyone healthy, especially the kids, is also very important to us."</p><p>Hambley was also grateful to the community sponsors, such as local businesses, churches and corporations, who donated an incredible amount of time, funds and prizes to the event, she said.</p><p>"Everyone should mark their calendars for next year's fair," Hambley said. "It's free to attend and it's all about the kids and teaching them about health and safety."</p><p>Event coordinator Jennifer Lieb said she was also impressed with the event's turnout.</p><p>"We had about 130 families and around 300 children at the fair," Lieb said. "I thought it turned out really well. I think even some booths ran out of their materials, which is always a good sign."</p><p>Lieb, who has been volunteering with the fair since its start in the Memorial Hospital Los Ba&#241;os parking lot, said she has enjoyed watching the fair grow over the years and being more involved this year as the event's coordinator.</p><p>"It's a great feeling," she said. "And I hope to be able to help again next year, but we'll see."</p><p>Volunteer and Miss May Day court member Ory Rhodes of Dos Palos said she's been volunteering at the event for four years. Helping with registration this year, Rhodes said she thinks the best part of the fair is the vast amount of education the children receive about their health and safety.</p><p>"Every year I come here I learn something new," Rhodes said of the fair. "And the fair itself improves every year."</p><p>Don Blitch and his two children, Jackie and Austin, of Chowchilla, attended the fair and were really impressed by quality and time put into the event.</p><p>"We're having a lot of fun," Blitch said.</p><p>With the children able to bring their bears and dolls to the event for their annual 'check ups,' children were able to see how going to the doctor's isn't as scary as they might think.</p><p>"My favorite part was the ambulance and getting my bear his check-up," Jackie said.</p><p>"He's really healthy," Austin said of his own bear.</p><p>Jeff Kuhne of the Merced County Riggs Ambulance Service (RAS) said it was also his first time at the fair, but he was enjoying being a part of the fair and showing kids that calling 911 isn't scary.</p><p>"The kids really like the ambulance," Kuhne said. "It's a good way for them to get familiar with everything. I'd definitely come back and be a part of it again next year."</p><p><i>Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com</i>