Wellness Fair promotes local organizations and resources

By: Maggie Helenek

Copy Editor

Students crowded around the different stands available at the fair, except instead of getting cotton candy or carnival souvenirs, they were given caps, pens, pamphlets and even backscratchers all promoting health and wellness.

Hudson Valley Community College’s Wellness Fair took place on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in the Siek Campus Center and gave individuals the opportunity to see what organizations and resources were in the capital region.

Matthew Delaney, a Mental Health First Aid Program Associate from Mental Health Association in New York State, said the Wellness Fair is important for college students.

“For a lot of people on a college campus it might be their first time being more independent and I think mental health and wellness is one of the most important things that you can do for your productivity, for your well-being [and] for your confidence,” Delaney said.

The organizations present at the event included the YMCA, Fidelis Care, American Red Cross, Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy and different mental health organizations.

“A lot of people quietly suffer from mental [illness] so places like this and people that come out and show what they have, are good for the students that don’t really know what they need,” said Yvette Keene, an individual studies major.

There was also a table where students could color and make friendship bracelets.

“I think it’s a good place to network and maybe see things you wouldn’t necessarily think of that might be in your field of study,” said Alicia Bombard, membership coordinator of the YMCA.

Mayzha Wilson, a health and wellness major agreed saying, “I saw things that I didn’t think I would see at a Wellness Fair, like I never would of thought of putting a massage booth in, but I realize that it’s important for self-care and things like that.” 

Meagon Nolasco, Mental Health Empowerment Project employee, said the Wellness Fair benefits both the students and the organizations involved.

“We don’t get to meet a huge group of college kids really any other time so the fact that we are here, people can know our names [and] see our names,” said Nolasco. “A lot of people don’t even know we are in Troy, so it really helps us get this demographic of college kids to know who we are.”

“I don’t remember having something like this at the college that I went to so it’s nice that [Hudson Valley Community College] invited so many people to come and just talk about all the different programs that are out there,” Bombard agreed.

Timypaul Lupe, a human services major said that multiple tables showed ways to deal with stress.

“I learned that you can release stress by exercising, working out, and even rest and mediation so I think it’s very important for [teaching] stress relief,” Lupe said.

“College students may be the highest up there with dealing with stress, so I think having something to teach us how to wind down and care for ourselves is important,” agreed Wilson.

The Wellness Fair occurs once every semester.