It’s a WinWin party at Northern Essex Community College! Winnie the school’s best friend had turned two on Feburary 13th, the same day her party was hosted in Lawrence Campus’ El Helfni building by Student Life. Excited and thrilled with the same emotions when she walks through the halls and sometime visits classrooms at both campuses, Northern Essex students, staff, and other friends gather to celebrate the school’s committed emotional support dog.
Being the school’s real mascot, Winnie receives a well-deserved pampering, pets, and treats from her party guests. Upon asking guest Arianna, “Do you think that the school has made a good decision in including Winnie as it’s emotional support dog?”, Arianna replied “One hundred percent, I want to see more of Winnie.”
NECC students aren’t the only ones Winnie is a support to, other programs who visit and work at food stops at NECC like the Opportunity Works groups and the Project Search kids that share a special bond with Winnie.
Carlysha Carcarrasquillo, coordinator for Project Search program shares a few words about Winnie.
“The dog impacts them during their work, Winnie really makes them happy. Sometimes they arrive to work having a bad day and as soon as they see Winnie, it lifts their spirit. So, Winnie is like our emotional support dog that has been very very helpful because it’s a therapy for them. We like taking her out, she’s like our very own pet. She’s special to NECC and Project Search as the interns look forward to spending time with her.”
NECC police Lieutenant Keith Walker who houses and takes care of Winnie answers to the question, “Is Winnie also an emotional support for you as well, during work and at home?”,
Walker replies, “Yeah, we’re with each other twenty-four hours a day. A lot of people don’t see every aspect of what I see with her
when I bring her home. She’s different than she is here. She ‘s playful, she loves to run. She loves to go to the beach and the trail.
Meanwhile at NECC she’s on a leash for the case of if anyone’s allergic or scared of dogs,”
Northern Essex is proud of having such a bonding companion that brings the NECC community closer and puts a smile on everyone’s face.
