Dogs, massages, free food and drinks filled the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) on Wednesday, ready for students to arrive at the annual Shippensburg University Wellness Fair.
The SU counseling center and human resources office combined efforts to bring 56 vendors to the CUB multipurpose room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each table offered a service that could be helpful to students. The Wellness Fair comes at a time when the stress of final exams is beginning to set in.
Visitors to the fair received bingo cards with the names of different vendors on them. By going to each table students could check off spaces until they got bingo, which made them eligible to enter a drawing for raffle prizes.
One of the most popular tables, Kindly Canines, attracted a crowd of students. Curious therapy dogs circled their new friends, pressing their noses into the hands of excited college students. Members of Kindly Canines also visit elementary schools, where students read to the dogs — the organization visits any place where it can help provide comfort to people under stress.
Chambersburg resident Jacqui Whitfield brought her 7-year-old yellow lab, More Love, to visit with SU students.
“It’s the feeling that we can give love back to people who are feeling stress,” Whitfield said of Kindly Canines.
In addition to the therapy dogs, the fair offered massages from New Day Yoga and Wellness, which drew a line of eager students. Carlisle Regional Medical Center had several tables available for people to learn more about their services in person, like through blood pressure tests. Wal-Mart’s vision center performed eyesight tests to determine whether students had strong enough vision to drive safely. The Department of Motor Vehicles wants drivers to have at least 20/40 vision in both eyes.
The counseling center had a tea tasting with information on the soothing effects of various types of tea. Chamomile, for example, can induce a sense of calmness and relaxation.
Chartwells Dining Services offered free samples of Starbucks drinks, green tea and passion tango. While students tasted drinks, Dining Services Director Nick Iula used his time with students to educate them about the benefits of eating bananas. The fruit is high in potassium and can help reduce the risk of cancer, Iula said.
Sophomore Sylvia McMullen decided to come to the Wellness Fair after she had a bad morning and heard there would be puppies at the event.
“I’m really happy I went because it reminded me how much this school tries to help us mentally and physically,” McMullen said.
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