Marblehead Counseling Center held its first ever Community Wellness Day on Saturday, June 22nd at Hobbs Playground.
The event was the first of four to mark MCC’s 55th year of providing mental health services to the local community.
“We’re using this as a way to give back to the community for all the support they’ve shown us over the years,” said Ron Grenier, associate director of the counseling center.
The event kicked off with a performance by local singing group Shooting Stars, with six elementary school girls taking to the microphone under the direction of instructor and life coach Molly Williams.
Through her music and live performances, Williams teaches kids how to deal with anxiety and build self-confidence, and Saturday’s setlist included empowering songs like “This is Me,” “The Climb” and “Fight Song.”
“Every time I go on stage, I have to be brave and kind to myself when I make mistakes,” Williams says. “The goal is to build confidence and have fun while doing it.”
Meanwhile, attendees played lawn games and enjoyed free popcorn and Italian ice cream handed out by volunteers in neon orange shirts. The Terry’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream truck even came by to hand out free ice cream to everyone.
“We came up with this idea to celebrate the community and connect wellness with the community,” said Lisa Cohen, business manager for the counseling center.
A variety of booths were set up in front of the counseling center. Local vendors included Marblehead Cares, The Mariner and the MHD Pride Committee. Also on hand were a holistic chiropractor, a yoga instructor, a holistic health and culinary counselor and a speech-language pathologist.
“We’re trying to address mental health from our hearts to our toes to the food we consume,” Grenier told the Current.
Sitting at a booth in the counseling center were Marie Ouellet and Greg Mulford. Ouellet is the chief clinical officer and Mulford is the clinical supervisor. Ouellet said the counseling center’s clientele includes everyone from children to seniors.
Body Mind Systems of Swampscott presented two martial arts demonstrations, one for children and one for adults, and J&J Pony Rentals of Groveland brought three ponies to Hobbs to take children on pony rides around the field.
Ronan McKiernan, 12, and Markus Faust, 13, arrived at the event with smiles on their faces. They attend Marblehead Veterans Middle School and were excited to kick off their summer with ice cream and Italian ice. When asked if they planned on taking a pony ride, McKiernan laughed and said, “We joked about it in the car…we’ll see what happens!”
The Marblehead Police Department closed off Wear Lane to provide extra security around the ice cream truck, and the Marblehead Fire Department offered to use their hoses if it got too hot, but the day was calm and overcast.
The teamwork shown both before and on the day of the event was a wonderful reminder of the community’s ongoing support for one another.
“Life isn’t meant to be lived alone. It’s meant to find friendship,” Williams said.
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