For Michael Meyer, the moment he'll remember most from Teaneck's Walk to Wellness program wasn't even the walking — it was the emotion he saw from all of the participants.
"I was surprised and, honestly, unprepared for the emotional response," says Meyer, Health Officer for the Township of Teaneck's Department of Health and Human Services. "Many participants felt that their goal was not within reach, but they did it. They accomplished something they truly thought was impossible."
That kind of transformation—quiet, personal, and deeply real—is exactly what Holy Name’s organizers were envisioning when they partnered with the Township of Teaneck a year ago to bring the 12-week community health initiative to life.
Each week, residents gathered at Votee Park for warm-ups and guided walks, building distance incrementally as their strength and confidence grew. Along the way, Holy Name's medical staff and fitness professionals walked with them — not just as guides, but as cheerleaders. The program also included expert-led webinars to support participants and reinforce healthy habits.
What made the program remarkable wasn't only the miles logged: It was who came out to log them. Many participants had never taken part in a wellness event offered through the township. Some came hesitantly. Some came with family members who cheered them on from the sidelines. And many, after crossing what initially felt like an unreachable finish line, went on to join other wellness programs they never would have tried before.
"The confidence, the connections that were built — all of this was done to promote overall well-being," Meyer says. "Watching them was a great reminder that you can achieve goals that seem out of reach."
Meyer, who has served as Teaneck’s health officer for about a year and a half, attended each training session leading up to the 5k — helping with registration, greeting participants, and witnessing the community take shape in real time. But the program is just one chapter in an ongoing story of collaboration. Holy Name and the Township of Teaneck have worked together on public health services, blood pressure screenings, vaccination programs, and community health presentations.
For Meyer, the partnership with Holy Name is more than a series of events. It's a shared commitment to meeting community members where they are and walking alongside them toward something better.
"I'm grateful to have collaborated on this program," he says. "We're looking to build on this success and carry that momentum forward."
At Holy Name, that's the kind of progress we're proud to be part of — one step at a time.
