2025 GuardCare Weekend Set In Crawford County, Ohio

Posted on:

July 28, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 
ODH Office of Communications 614-644-8562
Heidi Griesmer, Ohio National Guard, 614-506-3490

GuardCare Weekend Set To Provide No-Cost Health Services
Event is a collaboration between the Ohio National Guard, Ohio Department of Health, and Crawford County Public Health

(BUCYRUS, Ohio)— The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) announced today that a wide variety of no-cost health services will be offered to residents of Crawford County and all Ohioans during the 2025 GuardCare weekend on August 9-10 at the Trillium Event Center, 1630 E. Southern Avenue in Bucyrus.

The services are made possible through a partnership between ODH, the Ohio National Guard, Crawford County Public Health, the Crawford County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and local community partners.

Services include:

  • Behavioral health services
  • Bicycle helmets
  • Blood lab work
  • Blood lead level screenings
  • Car Seats (and car-seat safety checks)
  • Dental exams and treatments
  • Financial coaching
  • Immunizations for all ages
  • Mammograms
  • Physicals (including sports physicals)
  • Vision exams and prescriptions

In addition, a resource fair on site will help people get access to local healthcare providers and have information on addiction care, the state’s Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), the Ohio Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), Job & Family Services, Medicaid, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio, and much more.

The hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 9 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 10.

There is no income requirement to receive services, and insurance information will not be taken or billed.

Created in 1995, GuardCare is held annually at a different location around the state. The 2024 event, held in Greene County, was the first since 2019.

“I attended this event last year, and it was really extraordinary to see how many services were provided,” said ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff. “GuardCare is a wonderful program that brings a wide variety of critical health services to Ohioans who may not otherwise receive them, and we are proud to be a partner in such an important effort.”

See downloadable photos from the 2024 GuardCare event.

“GuardCare allows the Ohio National Guard to provide free healthcare to Bucyrus and the surrounding communities while providing our members with needed medical training,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew Woodruff, Ohio adjutant general. “This event helps to ensure that we continue to meet our mission to be Always Ready, Always There.”

The OOD mobile services unit and dedicated staff will be on hand to support individuals with disabilities. This will include having an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter on-site to assist with communication for participants who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

For more information about GuardCare weekend, visit the Ohio National Guard website or call Crawford County Public Health at 419-562-5871.

“We’re proud to play a part in bringing this collaborative clinic to our community that puts people first,” said Kate Siefert, Crawford County Public Health Commissioner. “Our goal with this clinic is to ensure that all Ohioans – regardless of income or insurance status – have a place to turn for compassionate, comprehensive care.”

 

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About the Ohio Department of Health

The Ohio Department of Health’s mission is advancing the health and well-being of all Ohioans. ODH is transforming the state’s public health system through unique partnerships and funding streams, implementing data-driven, evidence-based solutions. For more, visit the ODH website, which offers a range of public health information, tools, and resources.