Alana Bridges

As a site leader, I worked closely with the Marvin Center and the Alpha Phi chapter to raise awareness for women’s heart health while also providing heart-healthy snacks to the community. The event began with creating posters in recognition of Women’s Heart Health Month. Throughout the month, Alpha Phi also hosts its annual Red Dress Gala and participates in Heart Health Week, during which we engage in various activities to support the Alpha Phi Foundation.

During the event, we led participants through a physical and mental wellness experience in collaboration with the Office of Health and Wellness, educating the group on the important connection between heart health and mental health. To conclude, we packed 200 bags of food and water to donate to the Brown Bag Food Pantry, directly supporting members of the community in need.

If I were to change anything about this event, I would replace or shorten the educational portion in favor of more hands-on service, such as additional bag packing, hosting a blood drive, or another activity that would create a more direct community impact. While the educational session was valuable and sparked meaningful questions and conversations, I felt that we could have done more tangible service. I would also aim to fundraise more effectively for supplies. Due to time constraints and limited staffing, the event was challenging to manage, and I believe it would have been more effective with a larger, more developed team of Alpha Phi members.