Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has launched its Pomeroy Wellness Program, intended to improve health and wellness in western Vigo County.
“I know the Pomeroy Wellness Program is going to be successful,” said Jenn Kersey, the college’s new wellness and sports marketing coordinator. She will oversee all aspects of the wellness program.
Various partners associated with the initiative gathered at the college Tuesday in Guerin Hall and received an update.
Last November, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation announced a $100,000 grant for the project, with funds going to the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Better Health Wabash Valley initiative. The Woods is the facilitator of the program and is working with several community partners, including The Maple Center for Integrative Health.
The $100,000 is funding a comprehensive wellness pilot program focusing on a healthy lifestyle that improves coronary health among western Vigo County residents; those benefiting include SMWC faculty, staff, students and the Sisters of Providence as well as the surrounding community, including West Terre Haute. Kersey began her new duties in June.
Although Kersey has been in the position only a few months — and just had a baby five weeks ago — she has begun to plan and implement several initiatives.
”We are working with partners to provide different programs, resources and events such as nutrition, exercise and cooking classes,” she said. All aspects of wellness will be addressed, including mental health and spiritual components. A website will be launched soon as part of the SMWC website; it will make health and wellness resources and event information available to the public.
Among programs already started, the Maple Center has offered a lifestyle education and food class for both adults and youth at the Woods campus. Another will start later this month. Other programs involve diabetes and cancer.
Kersey also has arranged for the United Way mobile market — which has fresh fruits and vegetables — to come to campus once a week. And she has started a wellness committee on campus, which consists of staff, faculty, students and the Sisters of Providence.
She plans to meet with the West Vigo Community Center and Vigo County Schools Superintendent Dan Tanoos to talk about programs that can be offered in the West Terre Haute area.
“There is a lot we’ve been working on,” Kersey said in an interview after the official announcement. Once the new Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center opens, it’s anticipated it will be used for some of the wellness activities, after logistics are worked out with college athletic programs.
Kersey returns from maternity leave at the end of September, and “then we’ll be rocking and rolling,” she said.
Among those participating in Tuesday’s event was Tiffany Etter, representing the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. The $100,000 grant “is money well spent and we’re thrilled to be part of it,” she said.
Also speaking was David Haynes, president of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. Normally, the chamber is all about business, he said, but it all starts with people “and we want healthy people.” The Pomeroy Wellness Program is a pilot program for Better Health Wabash Valley.
He noted that BHWV conducted a health needs assessment a few years ago, and it identified three major health problems in the Wabash Valley: heart health, smoking and obesity. Those are issues BHWV intends to address, he said.
And “what better place to start” than at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with the Pomeroy Wellness Program, he said. With the leadership of Kersey and college President Dottie King, “it’s going to be a success,” Haynes said.
Other program partners include the Terre Haute Children's Museum, Vigo County YMCA, Union Hospital and Wabash Valley Community Foundation.