Planning underway for annual Family Wellness Night

The Unit 1 School District Wellness Committee is preparing for its 6th annual Family Wellness Night.
    Scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, the event will feature health and wellness services offered by a variety of local businesses, organizations and public service agencies. There will be demonstrations and activities centered around the common theme of wellness.
    So far around 50 vendors have signed up to participate in the fair. Unit 1 Superintendent Dr. Kent Bugg expects the number of vendors to outpace last year.
    The family-friendly event is organized by the district’s Wellness Committee and is based on a concept that high school physical education teacher Gianna Trotter learned about attending a conference in 2011.
    Committee members hosted the first Family Wellness Night in spring 2012 and attendance was around 600. Since then attendance has continued to grow with well over 1,000 people of all ages taking part in the annual event.
    The idea of Family Wellness Night is to connect attendees with businesses and organizations that are centered around wellness, as well as provide a myriad of related activities from blood pressure checks to fitness activities for kids.
    As the community continues to point out, wellness extends beyond good eating and exercise, so it looks to include all facets including public service agencies, community organizations and personal care businesses.
    A highlight of the event is the healthy food court that provides attendees with free samples of  healthy menu items from area food service providers. So far, Morris Hospital and Healthcare Center’s Nutrition Service’s Department; Unit 1 Food Service Department; Rachetti’s Cafe, Pizzeria & Pub and Isagenix are slated to be a part of the food court.
    The committee provides each of the food vendors a small stipend to help offset their costs.
    Activities include wellness games, medical checks and massages, and the Coal City Public Library will be making homemade stress balls.
    Admission is free. The doors open at 6 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. Those attending will be entered into a drawing for prizes provided by various vendors, local businesses and organizations.
    New vendors slated to participate this year include Crossroads Counseling Services, Easter Seals, Guardian Angel Community Services, Trinity Services and Vitas Hospice.
    A variety of school groups are slated to participate including Coal City High School’s chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), science club and student council. The Grundy Area Vocational Center’s fire science and health occupations students will also take part in the event.
    Additional  vendors registered as of Tuesday include: Athletico, ATI Physical Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Breast Intentions of Illinois, Chestnut Health Systems—Grundy County Parent Communications Campaign, Coal City Dental Center, Coal City Fire Department, GFWC-IL Coal City Junior Woman’s Club, Coal City Police Department and Coal City Public Library.
    Also, Costco,  Doc’s Drugs, Dynamic Fitness Center, Earthway Martial Arts, Elite Rehabilitation Institute, Girl Scouts, Grundy County Emergency Management, Grundy County Health Department, Grundy County No Tolerance Task Force, Grundy Transit System, Help for Hope and Hope Helps.
    Additionally, Illinois State Police, JJC/Grundy Workforce Services, Lander Family Chiropractic McNab Foot and Ankle Center, Amy Borchelt-Mary Kay Cosmetics, Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, Naked Sun Tanning, Hair and Day Spa, Pregnancy Resource Center, Rezin Orthopedics, Shaklee, Thrive Integrative Wellness Center, YMCA and Young Living Essential Oils will take part.
    Businesses, organizations and public service agencies interested in participating can sign-up by contacting Karen Vota in the superintendent's office at 815-634-2287 or by e-mail to kvota@coalcityschools.org.