HEART & SOLE BRINGS MENTAL WELLNESS AND HEALTHY LIVING TO NORTH RIDGEVILLE
North Ridgeville Heart & Sole, powered by United Way of Greater Lorain County, brought a new vision for community wellness to life with its first Mental Wellness Fair and Farmers Market at the LCCC North Ridgeville Campus. Created through the partnership, dedication, and hard work of Heart & Sole collaborative partners, the event brought mental wellness, healthy living, and community connection together in one welcoming space.
Approximately 20 farmers market vendors participated, including the Inferno Pizza Food Truck, while nearly 20 organizations filled the campus with free giveaways, helpful resources, and information focused on mental health and overall well-being. Heart & Sole also hosted a pop-up workout, giving attendees an opportunity to get moving and experience firsthand how physical activity can support both physical and mental wellness. The workout was a huge success and added an energetic, interactive element to the day’s many activities.
As one of United Way of Greater Lorain County’s health collaboratives, Heart & Sole works to educate the North Ridgeville community about healthy living and wellness while creating opportunities for residents to become more active and engaged in the community around them.
Although this was the first time the event had been held, the response was incredibly encouraging, with approximately 200 community members attending. Vendors and attendees shared how much they enjoyed the experience, and people walking or driving by stopped to ask whether the farmers market and wellness fair would become a monthly event. Many expressed that they would return if another event were offered.
The strong turnout, enthusiastic participation in the pop-up workout, and positive feedback demonstrated a genuine interest in accessible opportunities that bring together mental wellness, physical activity, healthy living, local resources, and community connection.
This successful first event was made possible through the collaboration of partners within LCCC, the City of North Ridgeville, Lorain County Public Health, United Way of Greater Lorain County, and the Heart & Sole collaborative. Together, they transformed an idea into a meaningful community experience where residents could connect with resources, discover local organizations, enjoy fresh food and vendors, get active, and learn more about caring for their mental and physical well-being.