HCC to Host Fresh Check Day to Promote Mental Wellness on April 29
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will host a day dedicated to promoting mental health and wellness on Wednesday, April 29. Fresh Check Day will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the HCC Courtyard.
This innovative program, developed by the Connecticut-based Jordan Porco Foundation, is designed to bring together the campus community to check in on the mental health and wellness of college students. The event is free and open to all.
Organized by the Office of the Dean of Student Experience and HCC Student Engagement, with support from other campus partners and student clubs, Fresh Check Day will transform the HCC Courtyard into a vibrant, expo-like setting with interactive exhibits, food prizes, giveaways, and even friendly puppies.
“Student well-being is an essential part of the overall student experience at Holyoke Community College,” said Julissa Colón, HCC’s dean of Student Experience. “By increasing awareness of mental health resources and creating opportunities for connection, we remind students that they are supported not only academically, but as whole people throughout their time here.”
Highlights include interactive exhibits and activities designed to educate and engage students on mental health topics, such as stress management, anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention; community engagement opportunities where students can connect with their peers and campus resources in a positive, community-focused environment; and prizes and giveaways.
In the event of rain, the event will be held inside, on the second floor of the HCC Campus Center.
The Jordan Porco Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Wethersfield, Conn. It was founded in 2011 by Ernie and Marisa Porco after they lost their son Jordan to suicide when he was a freshman in college. The goal of Fresh Check Day is to create an approachable and hopeful environment for discussing mental health and supporting student wellness.
“Many of our students are navigating competing responsibilities and an increasingly complex world,” Colón said. “Events like Fresh Check Day help strengthen a campus culture where students feel seen, valued, and encouraged to reach out.”