By Ainsley Hall
Gerrardstown Elementary School hosted a Winter Wellness event Wednesday evening, inviting businesses to share physical and mental wellness resources.
Families gathered at the school to spend time together, learning more about how to care for themselves.
School counselor Shannon Hess, who helped organize the event, explained that the school wanted to create an event where families could unplug and connect while also learning about wellness.
“We all know that mental health should be a priority,” Hess said. “During these busy times, it’s nice to take a pause and just take a night to spend time together. This event also gives people the chance to see what resources are available in the community.”
The event had 16 stations divided into sections. After stopping at the welcome center, groups went down to the cafeteria, where they talked about nutrition. Each guest was gifted an apple and water, while students could go to a pretend grocery store and choose which foods were healthier.
Then, they could stop by the gym, where they could do animal yoga, learn about the different programs at Planet Fitness and Berkeley County Parks and Recreation and talk with Musselman High School athletes about becoming a future Applemen.
P.E. teacher Nathan Schweinebraten also shared a project, where he mapped out places where kids could go to exercise and play. He first started the project as a college assignment when he was working on his degree at West Virginia University and decided it would a great resource to share with families.
“There are a ton of places to go in the area, but they aren’t well known,” Schweinebraten said. “This map helps tell people about what’s available to help them get out and get moving.”
Then, families could also hear from a dental hygienist, tour an ambulance, get haircuts and more. There was also a station dedicated to mental health, teaching kids the “Power of Pause” and how taking a break can help them when they feel overwhelmed. The Chick-fil-A cow even made an appearance during the event, interacting with kids and handing free meal cards to guests.
Hess is thankful for all the businesses and their willingness to be a part of the event. Hess shared that as she and the planning team were working on the event, they knew they wanted to focus on wellness, both physical and mental. They began reaching out to businesses that fall under those categories and were excited to see so many who wanted to participate. The main goal was to connect families to these resources and let them know what the community has to offer.
“This event will help families, because it exposes them to all the things Berkeley County has to offer,” Hess said. “With all the new businesses coming in, it can be hard to keep track of everything. Here, they can get more information on what’s around to spend time together as a family.”