Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara (SASY) Neighborhood Association is looking to bring healthy changes to Madison’s East Side community as its newly elected President Ray Cruz pushes initiatives with Greyley Wellness, an outpatient wellness clinic that offers a variety of mental health services to help people on their journeys.
The neighborhood association serves Madison’s areas between the Yahara River, Stark Creek, East Washington Ave. and Lake Monona. The new initiatives — dubbed “A Neighborhood Partnership for Good” — will provide mental health services and access to food for youth and are its most recent pushes after it elected Cruz to be the new president of SASY.
Greyley Wellness, located at 210 Eastwood Dr. STE. 300, has been looking to get more involved with the community, Cruz said.
“People don’t really know that it’s available and affordable,” Cruz said. “The initiative is to raise awareness that those services are available in our neighborhood, and there for everyone, all ages.”
Another aspect of partnered initiatives is to provide supplemental food to Lowell Elementary School students to round out nutritional needs. Cruz points to the needs of students who may need additional food to sustain throughout the day. He notes that his own children need two meals before they head out the door.
“These students, they can’t learn if they’re hungry,” Cruz said. “That’s the core reason why. It starts with $750 worth of snacks.”
Greyley Wellness donated $750 worth of snacks for the initiative. Cruz hopes to continue the effort with more partnerships with groups like Twisted Harvest Root and Second Harvest Food Bank.
