Despite poor weather conditions and a last minute location change, vendors of all sorts came together to support the Mills community with information and souvenirs at this year’s health fair.
The event was held Oct. 14 in Haas Pavilion.
Among the condoms, lube samples and other necessary items for safe sex offered by the Women’s Health Resource Center, and the display of See Jane Run shoes and apparel from the Rockridge running store, students and community members were able to put their names in for raffles being held every half hour, get free massages and receive flu shots.
Kim Baranek, Director of Wellness and Community Outreach, said she wanted to include vendors with information oriented towards sexual health, domestic violence and family resources, which have been a lack area of information in past Mills health fairs.
“We keep a list of vendors form the past health fairs. We want to keep a connection with them. This year we wanted to include things that have not been offered,”
she said.
Jess Miller, Director of Services for Students with Disabilities, sat at the registration table among her colleagues and fellow staff members at the entrance of the fair. She said, “The health fair is important because we want to connect the campus to it’s community resources. We want the students to know what is available.”
Raffle prizes offered included a one hour massage from Mills staff member Marla Mundus, t-shirts, tote bags and gift certificates from the Taoist Center.
Alumna Cathy Doan, representative of Good Vibrations, said, “We donated, I think, six bags of stuff. Each bag has two vibrator, lube samples, GV wipes and a 10 percent coupon off of anything in the store.”
Volleyball coach Susan Forbes and Assistant Athletic Trainer Lonnie Tanenberg promoted the fitness program P90X.
“APER has set up a flat screen in the fitness center for students to use the DVDs. With the program you get ripped in 90 days. It’s nice for a New Year’s resolution,”
said Forbes.
Students who held a Kaiser medical card were able to get free flu shots or mists with proof of their medical card.
“This is a really exciting opportunity for Kaiser plan members or non-members,” said Dana Doughty, a public policy major and registered nurse at Mills. “Faculty, staff and students are taking advantage of the flu clinic.”
Despite all the hard work put into the health fair, there were complications with the event. Poor weather conditions and a change in location led to the event having a lower number of attendees than anticipated, which prompted staff members to drive around campus in golf carts to seek out students.
Baranek said, “We are just trying to get the students to come.”
