Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Seacoast Yoga Community Gathers to Raise Money for (H)EAT!


Yoga teachers and students from the Seacoast area will be joining together for a three hour yoga class called the Yoga Mala. The fourth annual Yoga Mala will be held at The Rivermill at Dover Landing (www.rivermillnh.com) on February 12, 2012, from 9am to noon. All proceeds from the class fees and pledges will be donated to (H)EAT, a part of Seacoast Local, whose aim is to raise money for food and fuel assistance for area families.
Event coordinator Erin Ehlers states, “The Yoga Mala is an incredibly uplifting experience. All shapes, sizes, ages and styles of yoga students attend. A three hour class can be challenging, but we encourage our students to do what they can, and to remember that our reason for gathering is to make sure Seacoast families can eat and stay warm this winter.”
The class consists of meditation, 108 Sun Salutations, and chanting as taught by 19 area yoga teachers. Sara Curry, a participating teacher from Bikram Yoga Portsmouth, says, “It’s amazing to gather this many talented yoga teachers for one class. The energy is incredible.”
Last year, the event raised nearly $9,000 for (H)EAT. “This year, I expect we can exceed that goal, because we are reaching out further and involving more teachers and yoga studios. We’ve created a website and are using facebook,” said Ehlers. “This is the Seacoast’s largest yoga event.”
This year’s Yoga Mala even offers a class for kids. ChildLight Yoga in Dover will be holding two kids’ classes (8:45 to 10:15 and 10:30 to noon) to run during the event. ChildLight Yoga director Lisa Flynn says, “We’re looking forward to having kids participate. This way, parents can do a portion of the Yoga Mala while their kids are a few blocks away doing a fun class of kids’ yoga and activities.” Please contact Lisa Flynn at lisa@childlightyoga.com for more information.
The event is supported by area sponsors, such as The Rivermill at Dover Landing, who donated the space to the event. New England Printing and Copying donated the printing of the posters.

Interested yoga students can register through their studio, or by contacting Erin Ehlers at erin@yogaonthehillkittery.com. The registration fee is $25 dollars, and students are encouraged to collect pledges for their efforts in the class.
Participating studios include: 3 Bridges Yoga, Awakening Grace Yoga, Bikram Yoga Portsmouth, Buddhi Boutique, ChildLight Yoga, Cider Hill Yoga, Empower Yoga Center, Green Lotus Yoga Studio, Mindful Yoga and Massage Studio, Moebius Yoga at the Prana Studio, My Om Whole Fitness, Portsmouth Center for Yoga and the Arts, Portsmouth Yoga Shala, Prasada Yoga Center, Rasamaya Movement Center, Sacred Movement Yoga, Symmetry Yoga, Tracy Jordan, Yoga 4 Classrooms, Yoga East, Yoga on the Hill, and Yoga on York.

For additional information, contact Erin Ehlers at erin@yogaonthehillkittery.com. More information can be found at www.tinyurl.com/yogamala.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

~It's Christmas Time on the Seacoast~

We are thrilled with the outpouring of support H(EAT) received at the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert last week.  People were truly in the holiday spirit - PSO raised $168 in donations made by their generous patrons, and H(EAT) is incredibly grateful to all who gave!

We also want to thank our locally-minded friends at Veris! A donation of $500 was made in the name of Veris Wealth Partners employees and clients this week - just in time for the holidays!

This time of year, it's important time to think of your neighbors in need...but remember what E.B. White said:
"Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you".

Have a wonderful new year!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Treehouse Toys supports H(EAT)!

November 12th marked the second annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day, celebrated by locally owned toy stores from coast to coast.  This year, Portsmouth's Treehouse Toys generously donated 10% of the day's sales to H(EAT). We thank them for their gift of $290 toward food and fuel assistance - you should stop by and thank them too!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

A special thanks to our Seacoast Local Business Member, Piscataqua Savings Bank!

Piscataqua Saving's Bank proudly donated $1,250 to this year's Seacoast Local H(EAT) Campaign  - with a special request that their funds be allocated to the fuel assistance program. With the heating season upon us, the bank recognizes the need to support those struggling to heat their homes. As Portsmouth's Local Bank, Piscataqua Savings is an avid supporter of Seacoast Local and it's mission to showcase the important role that local independent businesses play in providing charitable support in our community, year-round. Next year, Piscataqua Savings Bank will celebrate its 135th year as a cornerstone in the Portsmouth community, and we thank them for their dedication to help maintain a robust local economy.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Upcoming H(EAT) Events...

Tickets on Sale now for Skyler and The Band of Thieves at The Music Hall Loft to support H(EAT) on January 21st st 8pm!
Skyler has been bouncing between Maine and Nashville for six months now, and is finally in the seacoast area long enough to play a hometown show! With his band, The Band of Thieves, featuring the Scharff Brothers, Sklyer will be appearing on January 21st at The Music Hall Loft, raising money for Seacoast Local's H(EAT) Campaign. Skyler will be donating 100% of the proceeds to this worth cause. Come out, enjoy some great music and show your support!
Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of the show. With a Student ID, tickets are $8 in advance and $10 the day of the show.  Buy your tickets here: http://www.themusichall.org/calendar/event/skyler

AND

This Wednesday, December 21st, Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will play its annual Family Holiday Pops Concert at The Music Hall in Portsmouth! They will be collecting donations for H(EAT) and suggest patrons give what they can!  

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

H(EAT) in the News...and Skyler!!

We are almost a month into this year's H(EAT) Campaign and things are rolling along!  We are still (and always) looking for individuals and businesses to get involved and help us reach our goal - it takes a village!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 21st when local favorite, Skyler, will perform a H(EAT) benefit at The Music Hall Loft at 5pm & 8pm. Tickets go on sale December 15th at The Music Hall for $12/$15.  Come hear a fantastic local talent and support our cause...win/win!
Check out Skyler's Seacoast Online feature: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20111201-ENTERTAIN-112010404.


Plus - This week we were featured in Foster's Daily Democrat:
"This campaign is a chance for us to remind the public of the very important work that Seacoast Local does. It's going to be a very cold winter with less government assistance than last year. People are going to need lots of help." - Read More:
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111210/GJBUSINESS_01/712109985/-1/FOSNEWS


Friday, December 9, 2011

Our neighbors need food assistance during the holidays...and all year.

"This year we are hearing that the need of struggling families for food assistance is greater than at any time in recent memory."

Read More at Seacoast Eat Local: