A slew of student organizations, Stevens programs, and a wide array of local organizations gathered in Walker Gymnasium yesterday for the annual THRIVE Community Wellness Fair. The Wellness Fair was organized by Stevens Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Graduate Student Affairs, Undergraduate Student Life, and the Office of Wellness Education, and was aimed at promoting wellness and connecting students with the larger Hoboken community. Healthy refreshments were provided, and students could enter a raffle for high-quality water bottles and Stevens-branded yoga mats.
The organizations in attendance were varied in both what they were and why they were attending. Some were there primarily for outreach. The Recreation representative was promoting intramural sports and making students aware of the fact that many P.E. classes can be attended by students and faculty who aren’t actually enrolled if they are looking to stay active. Email Brittney Carty at bcarty@stevens.edu for more information. The Stevens Dietitian, Karly O’Brien, MS, RD, was encouraging students to eat less meat by finding healthy plant-based protein options for a few meals a week (“flexitarianism”). The Hoboken Public Library was distributing flyers for a number of events they are hosting, and the Hoboken Historical Museum was similarly talking about their new Augmented Reality exhibit. The JED Foundation was spreading awareness about their suicide prevention programs and talking about their work on the Stevens Mental Health Task Force.
Other organizations were looking to recruit students for various kinds of volunteer work. A handful of Stevens students were signing attendants up for the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps, where they themselves volunteer. The Hoboken Community Center was looking for Student Volunteers to provide training for computer usage and online services, such as email. Interested readers can contact the Community Center at 201-963-4100 for information on how to get involved. The Mile Square Theatre was looking for student ushers and reminding students of its discounted $12 student ticket price for all shows. Go to milesquaretheater.org to get started, and remember that volunteers get to see the show for free! The Theatre was also advertising its acting and improv classes, which let participants take their first class for free. The Hoboken Housing Authority informed attendees of all the services it provides to Hoboken residents, largely focusing on providing housing for low-income Hobokenites, and was looking for both student workers and possibly even an intern. Contact Daniel Perez at dperez@myhhanj.com with any inquires. The Hudson Pride Center, located at Christ Hospital in Jersey City, was similarly looking for both volunteers and interns, while also promoting the wellness services they provide for LGBTQ+ individuals in need. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County was also looking for volunteers for programs such as tutoring, mentoring, and sports. Contact Judy Desilets at jdesilets@bgchc.org for information. The Hoboken Historical Museum was also looking for (paid) student workers for their House Touring event this upcoming Saturday. Reach out to Robert Foster at rfoster@hobokenmuseum.org to sign up. There were more organizations looking for volunteers, but unfortunately The Stute was not able to speak with them all.
Finally, some organizations were simply there to promote the general wellness services they provide. Planned Parenthood was providing information about the many services they provide in the interest of reproductive health. Some of the closest clinics are in Newark, Montclair, Paterson, and East Orange. Cassanda Lenza from Healing on Hudson was there to talk about the mental health services she provides, stressing that the transition to college can be taxing on students. The local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous was spreading information about where to go with concerns about alcoholism, emphasizing that there are over 30 AA meetings per week in Hoboken. Go to aa.org if you or a friend needs to find a meeting. ShopRite was informing attendees of the free nutrition services they provide in-store, from recipes to consultations. The Hoboken Government was distributing reusable bags and information about recycling in Hoboken to promote sustainability: wellness for the city itself! CAPS was also there to talk about their mental health consultations.
Overall, the Wellness Fair was a valuable event for students in attendance. Many other organizations were in attendance in addition to the ones described in detail above, all eager to talk to students about the resources and opportunities they provide.
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