On June 9th, Black River Area Community Coalition (BRACC) collaborated with the Green Mountain Union Middle/High School (GMUHS) in support of substance-free environments and mental health for their students. BRACC sponsored an end-of-the-school-year Student Wellness Fair at GMUHS where local health/wellness/youth-serving organizations were invited to set up a booth and engage with students and parents as they walked around.

The goal of the event was to bring awareness to the local network of prevention resources and support available for youth/families in the community. Organizations in attendance included: BRACC, Turning Point of Springfield, HCRS, HIV/HCV, Women's Freedom Center, Greater Falls Connections, North Star Health, Parks Place. Student attendees received fun stuff to take home including BRACC/GMUHS logoed water bottles and goodie bags filled with fidget toys, bubbles, stickers, notepads, colored pencils, funky pens, lollipops and more.

According to Lauren Ingersoll, Projects Coordinator at BRACC, “The event was a great success! I'm personally very pleased with the number of students and parents that came through today,  around 75 people. It was also a great opportunity for our organizations to get connected! Thank you to the GHUHS administration, Okemo Valley TV, and everyone who came to represent their organizations and support our united missions -- Turning Point Recovery Center, Women's Freedom Center, HCRS, North Star Health, HIV/HCV, Greater Falls Connections, & Parks Place -- We are so grateful to have you as partners in this community."