CHARLOTTE — Rhino stress balls, succulent plants, foot detoxes, and birdwatching are some of the ways community colleges used money slated for mental health support after Hurricane Helene, the state auditor said.
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The state provided the North Carolina Community College System with $1.25 million for expanded mental health support for students impacted by Helene.
His newly released audits say Gaston College spent more than $5,000 on 2,000 rhinoceros stress balls.
Blue Ridge Community College spent some of its money on succulent plants and stress relief toys from Amazon.
Wilkes Community College spent $1,500 on red light and salt therapy and food detox treatments. The college also spent some of the funding on a birdwatching and a fungus walk that provided “strategies for destressing while in a nature environment.”
The auditor recommends using student activity or institutional funds instead of Helene funding.