May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a period devoted to promoting mental health, eradicating stigma, and providing support. Mental health is still stigmatized, misunderstood, and infrequently discussed, despite the fact that everyone is affected differently. This month is an important opportunity of the importance of taking care of ourselves and others, to acknowledge the significance of mental health, and normalize honest conversations about mental health.

I chose mental health counseling because I am passionate about advocacy, social justice, and empowering clients to find their voice and recognize their inner strength.

April 20-26, 2025, is National Volunteer Appreciation Week! AMM relies on volunteers to assist in the garden, build kits for patients, and work part-time in the clinic. Without our volunteers, AMM would not be able to help the thousands of uninsured neighbors in Wake County. A big thank you to everyone who has volunteered at AMM! To celebrate, we are featuring two of our clinic volunteers and hearing from them about their volunteer experience.

April is Physical Fitness Month at AMM! Physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and according to the CDC, the average adult should get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity in every day. At AMM there are a few different fitness programs offered to patients.

I have learned that there is always people out there making a difference in the community even amidst difficulties and barriers. AMM inspires and motivates me to apply my future studies and career towards something greater and share that endeavor to those around me. I didn't realize how much work and problem solving it requires in order to close the health gaps in today's society. I think it's been an honor to be able to witness this firsthand.

Did you know that your kidneys play an important role in your overall health? Despite their

modest size, these bean-shaped organs are critical for waste removal, fluid balance, and overall

health maintenance. However, kidney disease often remains unrecognized because symptoms

appear gradually over time. That is why National Kidney Awareness Month, which occurs in

March, is such an essential time to learn more about kidney health, raise awareness about the

dangers of renal disease, and explore prevention methods.

AMM’s current Social Work Intern, Erin, is a Master of Social Work student at NC State. She reports to Nick, our Director of Social Work Services. Not many free and charitable clinics have a social worker who is embedded in the clinic. Erin is over halfway through her time with AMM, so we asked her some questions about Social Work and her experience at AMM.