The Caroline Huber Wellness Center at Brookdale is known as a place to unwind and calm down. It’s also a place to connect with many resources such as yoga, meditation and more.
Something lesser known about the center is how efficiently it provides assets to individuals who are struggling financially.
The Wellness Center provides free food. “Every day, there are grab and go high protein, nutritious snacks that are put out so students can grab something to eat. Or they can grab a meal that they heat up in the microwave,” said 47-year-old Summer Deaver, the director of the Wellness Center and a Neptune City resident.
“If they need extra support and they’d like to bring a weekly bag of groceries home to their household, we accommodate. For those who need additional support on campus, we have meal vouchers.”
On top of this, the location provides free utilities for student’s mental health. “They can get free therapy here,” Deaver said. “It’s a quiet, relaxing place to come hang out, meet friends, study, and also for our students who might need a little extra support.”
No matter what issues somebody may be combatting in their personal life, the Wellness Center is a perfect place to unwind and settle down. “One of the cool features I think we have here is a reflection room. Anytime someone’s feeling overstimulated, it’s a nice place to be able to unplug, get quiet, and breathe. We have people who come regularly to meditate, pray and have quiet time.”
Even if you aren’t struggling financially, it’s never a bad idea to tip the location off to somebody who is.
“One student who may not need all the resources that learns about the Wellness Center can support their friends without making a big deal about it,” Deaver said. “They can say ‘Hey, you can get free therapy here. You can have a quiet place to destimulate, combat the overwhelm, or gain resources.’”
In the words of Deaver, the goal and purpose of the Wellness Center is “to provide students support and resources for basic needs, enhance wellness and social justice.”
Although Brookdale’s Wellness Center can help anyone in need, their program can specifically cater to students who are struggling financially and are in need of a helping hand. The building is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. is located in the MAN building.