For Kevin MacDonald, seeing thousands of people gather at Hungry Mother State Park later this month will be a striking image of a community coming together for better health.
The Hungry Mother manager sees the 5 Bridges Wellness Fair as a prescription for getting people to come to the park and explore different paths to wellness.
McDonald is already making plans to get his family involved in the event on Friday, June 21.
Samantha Crockett, director of behavioral health prevention and wellness services for Mount Rogers Community Services, described the fair as “what integrated health care looks like.”
This summer marks the third annual 5 Bridges Wellness Fair.
Crockett said about 1,500 people attended the first year, and about 2,500 people attended last June, and the Mount Rogers team is hoping for even more growth this year.
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Crockett noted that the number of exhibitors has increased this year from about 90 last year to more than 100.
These vendors include a variety of people, including massage therapists, pickleball advocates and fitness trainers, pharmacy staff, medical examiners, wildlife experts, barbers, yoga teachers, artists, financial professionals, fishermen and more.
Mount Rogers Trauma Recovery Coordinator Ginny Moore said before the first such fair, they were brainstorming who would make good vendors, and they quickly realized that farmers, parks staff, artists, theater staff and many others are all part of overall wellness.
This year, even more food trucks will be on site.
Crockett said the children’s area has also been upgraded and now includes an obstacle course to jump on.
The fair will run from 10am to 2pm and admission is free.
Moeller said the fair is designed to help local residents improve their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing and to help connect the community with resources and service providers.
Additionally, Crockett noted that vendors can learn about each other’s services and share that knowledge, creating a ripple effect of information sharing.
The team is working to make the fair as accessible as possible: There will be no parking fee at the park, and shuttles will operate within the park to transport anyone who needs to park in the more remote lots.
Marion Links buses will run to the park on their Hungry Mother route during fair hours and will also make a stop at the Farmer’s Market.
McDonald praised the event for its inclusiveness, noting that park staff have been asking for years how to get people to the park, and the fair helps answer that question.
He said the fair’s mission and goals are the same as those of Virginia State Parks, which is to allow people to experience nature in a healthy and affordable way. McDonald noted that the fair makes an immediate impact on people.
Resource booths at the fair are centered around the Five Bridges approach to health: Bond (how you connect), Fuel (what you take in), Move (what you do), Rest (when you recover) and Give (positive outcomes).
The 5 Bridges approach was developed by Jacob Moore, founder of the mental health nonprofit NoStigmas, and The5bridges.com states, “This evidence-based system is the result of 20 years of research, clinical insight, practical expertise, and experimentation.”
Moore previously said Mount Rogers Community Services had been “implementing this approach in our community for several years with positive health outcomes.”
He said the system is being used in schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations and inpatient and outpatient facilities.
Crockett said planning and running the fair is a lot of work, but seeing the joy and connections that come from it is inspiring.
“This is a time of hope,” Moore said.
The fair will be set up outside the Lakeview Events Center, formerly a restaurant.
