NATCHEZ &8212; With conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure running rampant in Mississippi and Louisiana, holding a health fair as part of the nationwide Make a Difference Day seemed to be a perfect fit.

That&8217;s according to more than a dozen Americorps volunteers from Natchez-Adams public schools, who coordinated the fair held in the center court of Natchez Mall.

&8220;There are so many people displaced by the hurricane, and many of them can&8217;t get to a doctor&8221; or can&8217;t afford one, said Americorps&8217; Sherry Martin, a volunteer at West Primary School.

&8220;And there are a lot of people who are going around with glaucoma and diabetes and don&8217;t even know it,&8221; Rhoshonda Bell, a volunteer at McLaurin Elementary, said.

Saturday&8217;s event included high blood pressure, glaucoma and dental screenings as well as informational videos and brochures.

Nursing students of Alcorn State University, as well as staff of the Comprehensive Health Center, were on hand to help.

&8220;This is known as secondary prevention, something to find out if they have (such health conditions) so they can get treatment for them,&8221; said Alcorn nursing student Angie Gunnell, adding that the ideal is for such people to also make healthy changes to their lifestyles.

The Natchez Lions Club was also on hand to give out information on glaucoma and diabetes and to help collect eyeglasses. The club hopes to send 1,200 pairs of glasses to people in third-world countries by May.

The Americorps volunteers take part in several community-wide service projects each year, from signing children up for library cards last Make a Difference Day to holding their recent beef stew drive for the needy.

Other Make a Difference Day activities included:

4The On-the-Move 4-H Club and the Working Together Ruriteen Clubs distributed 800 comfort caps to cancer patients.

4Adams County 4-H and Girl Scout Troop 224 held a health fair and other activities at the Mississippi State Extension Office.