Joliet Junior College held their Annual Wellness Resource Fair at the C-F Concourse on Wednesday, April 8. The event was designed to give students and JJC community members the chance to learn and reach out to any wellness resources to support their health. From veteran support groups to shelters centered around supporting women and their loved ones, there was a place for everyone to find what they needed with over 30 programs to explore.
One of the groups at the fair named the “National Hook-Up of Black Women, Inc.” are advocates for helping women as well as their families. Gwen Ulmer and Rita King were present at the event representing the group.
“Our focus of our organization is to be connected with our community,” Ulmer said.
The NHBW, INC. has a variety of different resources for anyone in need.
“We do a food pantry every second and fourth Tuesday,” King said. “11-1p.m. for everyone.”
King and Ulmer wanted the students at JJC to know that their age does not matter if they want to reach out for any resources, since their group is for everyone.
“You’re never too young to reach out to a community,” King said. “It makes you feel good like you’re doing God’s work.”
Another resource at the fair was Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital that specializes in healthcare for eligible veterans. Lisa Mendez, communication specialist was there as representative for any veteran students or staff at JJC to be reached out to.
“I think for obviously our veteran students we hope they reach out to us,” Mendez said. “It’s not just medical healthcare. We would like non-veteran staff to spread the word. Just to educate them that they’re out there. We want to educate people on our services.”
Krystal Gilewski, who is part of the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership at the VA Hospital, is a post 9/11 Military VA case manager, and VITAL program coordinator.
“As a whole, the VA provides healthcare for veterans,” Gilewski said. “We provide social resources and programming.”
Gilewski’s job has her working with veterans who were working during or after 9/11 and she partners with other schools like JJC.
“I have two different roles,” Gilewski said. “My post 9/11 role is we work with veterans who worked on or after 9/11 and it’s that specific program. Our role is to get them to whatever healthcare services they need.”
Her second role with partnering with other colleges is to help veterans get registered for the programs they want.
“Whether it’s at the VA, in the community or at the school, this is for any era of veteran,” Gilewski said.
At the event, many students were able to find a resource that interested them, especially ones that had tangible items of interest. JJC student Deanna Walsh liked the items being given out or sold to students.
“I think with all the different things to people’s attention,” Walsh said. “The one’s with more attractions attract more people. It would just need more stuff to get people’s attention.”
