MEXICO – The nonprofit River Valley Wellness Center has launched a membership drive aimed at benefiting both the center and area employers.

Tina Sirois, director of the center, said a program aimed at improving the health of employees would also help the center to survive while reducing health insurance costs for employers.

The goal is to raise membership to about 300, which Sirois says would make the center self-sustaining. Right now, that figure is at just over 100.

For about four years, the Wellness Center has been housed in the Mexico Recreation Center, which is the former Mexico High School. Originally, it was at Rumford Hospital where one of its primary functions was providing rehabilitation for cardiac and other patients. During a downsizing of services at the hospital, the Wellness Center had to relocate. Rehabilitation is still a major goal of the center, said Sirois.

But providing personal training and exercise opportunities is also a focus, she said.

“We need community support and want to provide programs for the public,” she said.

Benefits of exercise

On Tuesday, Sirois emphasized both the health and financial benefits of employees taking part in a regular exercise program.

She said absenteeism falls and productivity increases and, often, the cost of health insurance premiums declines.

Representatives from about 10 area businesses turned out at one of the two sessions held by the center Tuesday.

Peter Everett, co-owner of Kirn, Everett and Cameron Optometrists, didn’t commit on Tuesday. But he did say that his 10 employees are interested in some sort of regular exercise program.

Lennie Fairchild, marketing coordinator for Oxford Federal Credit Union, said she was on hand to gather information for the credit union’s 41 employees.

Sirois said additional packages of information were being distributed this week to area businesses.

The Wellness Center has been struggling to survive during the past year or so. It recently came to an agreement with the town of Mexico to repay about $10,000.

Sirois and personal trainer Vickie Kuhl have been volunteering their services until the Wellness Center can get back into the black.

Sirois said she wants to ensure that people who need rehabilitation, as well as those who want to improve their health, will have that chance.

“We are paying our bills,” she said.

Group and individual rates are available by calling 364-7328.