Wellness in the Field event gives to service providers what they give to others
On Friday, Sept, 27, the Community Impact Network hosted its second annual Wellness in the Field event, where direct service providers in the Network got a chance to relax and participate in wellbeing activities.
At the event, attendees had the opportunity to engage in a variety of wellness activities including massages, sound baths, a wellness workshop led by Goal-Driven Counseling, candle-making and more. They could also browse a selection of free self-care supplies such as soap, lotion, personal massagers, pillowcases, small art projects and more. Dinner was also provided, catered by Network member Propel Kitchens.
The aim of the annual event, which was held this year at Five Oaks on Warson in Olivette, is to offer direct service providers an opportunity to relax and have others care for them the same way they care for their clients.
“Every day they’re going into their job at 6 or 7 in the morning and they’re pouring into someone else,” Community Impact Network Vice President of Service Ailey Pope said. “They’re trying to change someone else’s life and make a better space in our community for other folks. I think it’s vital that we make spaces for them to be poured into.”
Vendors and services included the following:
- Massages by The Active Workplace
- “Ignite Your Care” inspirational workshop by Goal-Driven Counseling
- Sound bath, laughter yoga, drum circle and a walking labyrinth with Self Care by Eileen Wolfington
- Candle making with Litty Candles
- Dinner by Propel Kitchens
- Beverages from Narwhal’s Crafted
Attendees said they appreciated the variety of offerings. Rose Foor from Belle Children’s & Family Services said she enjoyed the way attendees could choose activities that they thought would fit their own interests. Others such as Mia Turner from Nurses for Newborns admitted that relaxation is a rarity for them.
“We don’t do enough self-care. At least I don’t,” Turner said. “So just to come and relax and do some self-care and just focus on me is a plus.”
It’s a means to give back to all of us who are pouring out just about everything we have to ensure that our clients and our customers are taken care of.
Mitchell Mandel
Autism Support Now
Network staff and volunteers from Kforce, Ameren, Compass Realty and the Little Bit Foundation were there to serve food, welcome attendees, answer questions and operate the wellness market. Mitchell Mandel from Autism Support Now said he could feel the love and support at the event.
“You can tell they definitely care about everybody here,” Mandel said. “They care about the individual missions that we all have. It just seems like it’s a means to give back to all of us who are pouring out just about everything we have to ensure that our clients and our customers are taken care of.”
