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MONDAY, MAY 11, 2026
VOLUME 120 - ISSUE 31 Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Campus group provides blood pressure tests, health services to Gainesville homeless community STUDENT VOLUNTEERS HOST WEEKLY EVENTS TO PROMOTE HEALTHCARE By Reagan Bresnahan Alligator Contributing Writer
Lilliana Wells drove down University Avenue, hungry. The 44-year-old Gainesville resident wanted to buy a gyro, but it wasn't in her budget. Then she saw a small group handing out food in front of City Hall. “I was like, ‘Ooh, food over there,’” Wells said. “I did illegal parking, and I hurried up and came.” With a rumbling stomach, she walked to the table, where volunteers from nonprofits Project Downtown Gainesville and Hearts for Homeless greeted her with a
salad, Gatorade, care packages and a free blood pressure test. Wells, who lives in her car, said small acts of care — even things as simple as a free screening or a meal — can make a difference. “They’re doing a great thing out here,” she said. According to the Alachua County Department of Health, among Alachua County’s estimated 639 homeless people, 95% of those surveyed reported difficulty in accessing health care services in 2024. Across Gainesville, student volunteers are stepping in to close the gap. At the center of those efforts is Hearts for Homeless, a UF student organization focused on preventive care. The group of-
SEE H4H, PAGE 4
SOFTBALL
Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff
Florida outfielder Taylor Shumaker (21) stands with her team for the national anthem before an NCAA softball game against Mississippi State, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. Read more in Sports on pg. 12.
Mental health stigma persists among Hispanic students and immigrants
College culture can lead to an increase in stigma for immigrants and their descendents By Dulce Rodriguez-Escamilla Alligator Staff Writer
Aylin Gomez Melo tends to take a step back when facing challenges. She faces college alone with no guidance, the first in her family to step foot on a college campus. Navigating academic hardships only increases her anxiety. Pushing herself has not helped in the past — she’s learned to back away from letting her mind wonder if she is meant to be there. Melo, a 19-year-old UF graphic design freshman with Mexican and Guatemalan roots, said she’s never struggled with an
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT
Gainesville community Story description finish with comma, Retirement community shares love pg# of beekeeping. Read more on pg. 3.
identity crisis with her culture. Instead, she has become more aware of her changing attitude toward mental health. While she’ll usually ask for help when facing challenges, she said there are times when she doesn’t. Feeling overwhelmed about school only contributes to her imposter syndrome and self-doubt. Melo’s experience reflects the challenges many low-income descendants of immigrants face when entering higher education. The stigma surrounding mental health makes many opt not to pursue higher education. Those like Melo, who choose to move forward in spite of it, often face
stronger stigma in college. Melo said many other first-generation students tend to develop this mentality from their life experiences, stressors they have faced and the way society perceives them. “I have to be the example for my other sisters that I have and the rest of my family since I am the oldest,” she said. “If I reach out for help, I feel kind of dumb, or it's like I can't really reach out to anyone else because I don't have older siblings or older cousins that would be able to help me.” For Melo, the stigma around mental health grew stronger in college. She was
University rankings
UF has one of the highest Peace Corps populations among universities, pg. 5
The Avenue: Theatre
“Million Dollar Quartet” opens at The Hippodrome, pg. 6
diagnosed with anxiety and depression before college, but during her first semester, she stopped seeking help until her mental health worsened. “There were a lot of instances where I didn't reach out to anyone until my attendance was really bad and my grades were … not the best they could've been,” Melo said. When she was diagnosed with mental health conditions, Melo said her family wasn’t very supportive of the diagnosis. They didn’t accept the idea of therapy and
SEE MENTAL HEALTH, PAGE 4
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