Health and wellness are important to a single person, but also important to the community as a whole. When it comes to health or wellness, a lot of people only think about their own personal lifestyle and choices, and they usually don’t consider the entire community’s health. The community’s health is important because it can have an effect on its quality of life and living standards. As a collective impact initiative, Forward Wayne County is focused on collaborative community action toward addressing mental health and substance use within the community. This focus includes gathering groups and forming discussions focused on improving access to care for the community and enhancing the wellness of the county.
Communities in Wayne County have taken steps to help improve the health and wellness throughout their town. One of the ways that they do this is through holding different events that raise awareness for health and wellness. This is one of the best ways to get involved with the community and improve your own health and wellness. Continue reading to learn more about events and opportunities for support across Wayne County! Also, be sure to check out the WayNet community calendar to learn more about the Health and Wellness events happening all year long.
NUTRITION
Proper nutrition is one of the cornerstones of better long-term health, and sometimes getting the right nutrients through health and fresh food is a hard thing to get. Fortunately, many Wayne County residents have access to events put on throughout the year to help with this. One of them is the Richmond Farmer’s Market. This open-air event is held every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Elstro Plaza.
Strawberry season is upon us at Dougherty Orchard in Cambridge City! Strawberry picking starts on June 3rd. Dougherty Orchard offers a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables and honey from hives on the farm Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
EXERCISE
Proper exercise is an important part of wellness and a lot of people struggle to get the right amount of physical activity for themselves. One way to help improve your exercising habits is to attend wellness events across our county!
The Wayne County Challenge is an organization that holds different races throughout the year. During the summer the Wayne County Challenge holds three races – Fireworks 5K, Run With the Wolves 5K, and Heartbreak Hill 5K. Participate in the Fireworks 5K on June 29 at 9:00 a.m., Run With the Wolves on July 20 at 8:00 a.m., or test your stamina at the Heartbreak Hill 5K on August 10th at 9:00 a.m. Each race is 20 dollars for pre-registration and 25 dollars for a day of registration.
Another event to help you get in extra steps is the Walking Club. The club meets every Thursday, from the first Thursday in May to the last Thursday in August, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m at the Glen Miller Park Golf Course. Bring your family, friends, and dogs for the walk!
If you are older in age, but still want to be physically active then the EnhanceFitness program being provided by LifeStream and the Richmond Senior Community Center is perfect you! Classes are held from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the Richmond Senior Community Center. During each session, there is a variety of exercises done, and they can be modified to fit someone’s fitness level.
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Counseling is important to good mental health. Counseling can help people talk with others about their life experiences. Reid Health is one facility that offers a number of support groups throughout the year. One group is the Postpartum Support Group which is held every first and third Tuesday of the month from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
There are multiple community events put on that help give people better access to counseling. Excessive alcohol drinking is a problem that affects millions of people each year, and one event in Richmond that gives counseling for this problem is the Al-Anon Family Meeting. This meeting is going to be held on June 3rd from 7:30 to 9:30 at First Presbyterian Church.
MEDICAL
ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease affects many people nationwide, and there is counseling for it provided in the community. The ALS Association Indiana Chapter holds a meeting every second Monday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Richmond. Alzheimer’s disease is another illness that affects a number of people throughout the country, and there is local counseling in Wayne County for people who have it. The Alzheimer’s Association holds a caregiver support group every second Tuesday of the month from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Reid Health.
Wayne County has a multitude of opportunities to help improve your personal health and wellness. Attending these events is a great way to get involved with your community and maybe help you better your own life. Be sure to check out WayNet for even more ideas on health and wellness resources in Wayne County.
Now it is your turn! What do you do to address your personal health and wellness? Are there any local resources you would love others to know about for their own personal good? Comment below and share your ideas on social media! Leave me your thoughts below and be sure to stay connected with Forward Wayne County on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn! We would love to have your engagement and stories collected as part of this exciting growth and initiative! Also, be sure to use the hashtag #forwardINwayne to share your stories of how you are forwarding our community every day!
