October 2023 Newsletter
Hey, Highlanders! Fall is underway, and Halloween is right around the corner! Don’t forget to participate in the costume contest hosted by Student Life. And be sure to swing by the CREW office to see our (surprise) theme!! Read on for some health and wellness resources in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Spotlight: On-Campus Resources
Did you know that we have a health clinic on campus that’s open to the public?? Waco Family Medicine has been a longstanding partner with MCC and operates a clinic in the CSC building—perfect for students to swing by after classes (*must have a scheduled appointment).
At this clinic, you can access family health services like preventive care, well-child or well-woman exams, sports physicals, management of acute or chronic illnesses, lab services, and referrals for additional services. For more information, visit the website or call 254-313-5800.
What’s cool about Waco Family Medicine is that they will never turn away a patient who is unable to pay, and they accept most insurance plans. If the campus clinic is not the most convenient option for you, there are 13 other locations in McLennan County that offer a range of services.
Spotlight: Off-Campus Resources
We believe that everyone should have access to high-quality, affordable health care. Here are a few health care financing options that we regularly refer students to:
- Good Health Card: Waco Family Medicine offers this discount program to individuals and families with annual incomes at or below 200 % of current HHSC federal poverty guidelines. Eligibility for this program is based solely on family size and income.
- Medicaid / CHIP: Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide health coverage for low-income children, families, seniors and people with disabilities.
- Healthy Texas Women: Healthy Texas Women is dedicated to offering women’s health and family planning services at no cost to eligible women in Texas.
- HealthCare.gov (Marketplace): If you do not qualify for one of these other options, you may be eligible for Marketplace coverage; you can apply during a special enrollment period following a life event or loss of coverage OR during open enrollment from 11/1 – 1/15.
Shout-out!
Shoutout to the Success Coaching Services team for being incredible advocates for the CREW over the last few months! In October, they helped us organize a dental hygiene product drive so that we can make toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss available to Highlanders who shop at Paulanne’s Pantry!
Self-Care Tip
As we’re heading into cooler months, we’ll be spending a lot more time indoors, which leads to an increased risk of catching colds or the flu. So for this month’s self-care tip, we wanted to remind you to take the time to schedule annual wellness appointments.
Have you been putting off this task—intentionally or not? Do it. Schedule those appointments. You’ll thank me later.
We often build these things up in our minds, dreading the process of calling the clinic, finding a time that works, and then actually going to the appointment. In reality, though, it takes just a few minutes—you could schedule an appointment between classes!
Even better is the relief you’ll feel.
We have open and closed loops in our brains. Open loops are the decisions that are hanging over us. Whether or not we’re aware of our conscious processing of this unmade decision, the open loop drains a lot of mental energy (think about how apps running in the background drain your phone’s battery).
It’s important that we close as many loops as we can. This action will free our brains to think about other things…like school!
So go ahead and schedule that appointment. Just one. See how you feel. Then next month you can schedule another. Caring for our minds is just as important as caring for our bodies.
Read more: “Closed Loop Productivity” “Want to Calm Your Mind?”
***Disclaimer: Members of the CREW are not medical professionals, so please consult with your primary care doctor to determine the appointments that are right for you.
Easy Recipe
Maybe I’m a little too hungry as I’m writing this newsletter, but I came across an article that talked about easy and affordable ways to upgrade ramen. So here’s what I’m making for dinner, and I hope you enjoy the recipe too!
Need any ingredients? Swing by Paulanne’s for some non-perishable goods, frozen meat, fresh fruit, cheese, and/or milk! There’s a good chance we’ll have most of the ingredients for this meal when you stop by to shop the pantry!
ELEVATED Instant Ramen (Budget Bytes)
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
Servings: 1-2
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 handful sliced mushrooms
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 package instant ramen (seasoning discarded)
- 1 handful fresh spinach
- 1 large egg
- 1 green onion, sliced
- sriracha to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add the oil, garlic, and ginger to a small sauce pot and sauté over medium for about one minute.
- Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté for about a minute more.
- Add the broth and water, and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the uncooked ramen noodles. Boil for about 3 minutes, or just until they are tender. Do not overcook the noodles.
- Stir in the spinach until wilted. Turn the heat down to low, crack the egg into the broth, and let sit for about six minutes, or until the egg whites are cooked and the yolk is still runny.
- Transfer the soup to one or two bowls, then top with sriracha and sliced green onion.
NOTES
*Swap or leave out veggies or proteins to your taste preference
NUTRITION (per 1 serving)
Calories: 547 kcal | Carbohydrates: 60 g | Protein: 18 g | Fat: 26 g | Sodium: 1239 mg | Fiber: 3 g
CREW This Month
Every Thursday, 1–5 pm @ LTC 321 || Greater Waco Legal Services
Reach out for legal advice—FREE to all students, faculty, and staff! Consultation is free, but students are responsible for costs associated with applications or court fees.
Thursday, 11/9, 3–4pm @ Parking Lot R || Shepherd’s Heart Food Distribution
Swing by Lot R for FREE food from Shepherd’s Heart! Free and open to anyone in the community!
Thursday, 11/16, 11:30am – 1:30pm @ SLC || Third Thursday Thoroughfare
Come for free lunch and learn about resources in McLennan County just for college students!
Thursday, 11/16 || Thanksgiving Drive
Sign up to receive a Thanksgiving meal kit. MUST pre-register, so watch your student email for the link.
More events are available on the CREW calendar! Be sure to save the calendar so you never miss an event!
View past newsletters here: https://www.mclennan.edu/campus-resource-guide/newsletter.html
*Composed by Emma Cartisano*
