Swarms of yogis may be in the pose of a dog or child Friday in Santa Rosa’s courthouse plaza, but all will be making efforts to raise cash for the Redwood Empire Food Bank.
The inaugural event hosted through YogaSix will celebrate International Yoga Day and adopt the day’s theme, “Humanity,” supporting the food bank’s commitment to feeding young people over the summer.
Live music, food vendors and will fill the downtown plaza from 3:30 p. m. to 7 p. m.
The idea to marry the food bank came about after a student at the yoga studio, who also works at the food bank, asked YogaSix leaders to participate in the food donation site’s corporate wellness day.
“After talking to him at the Redwood Food Bank, we knew there was an increased need for food during the summer, when kids are out of school,” said Liz Pires, owner of YogaSix Santa Rosa.
The food bank has long supported student feeding during the summer, when loose school food is no longer available.
“Everything we do depends on the network, (other than) corporate donors and the fact that we make a lot of grants,” said Rachelle Mesheau, the food bank’s marketing and public relations manager. “These kinds of occasions allow us to succeed in an audience that has never heard of us. “
Organizers hope to raise $5,000 for food bank donations made at the event.
Participants will also be able to donate food; A donation of any kind will allow participants to participate in a series of raffles, participate in a day of yoga elegance, and relaxed elegance at the YogaSix studio.
At least 95% of all donations will go directly to Redwood Empire Food Bank programs, adding access to distribution sites and the Sonoma County Children’s Summer Breakfast Program.
“This is clearly a priority, because young people are not in school and they are not getting the food they normally would have earned in school,” Mesheau said. “We also have over three hundred distribution sites throughout the county, which is another way for parents to bring extra food to their families. “
Donations can be made on the occasion or online. Food donations can be made at Santa Rosa YogaSix at 368 Coddingtown Center.
“Any type of donation will allow them to participate in the raffle to win one of the 15 pieces of the raffle; we are looking for other people to come and return their money,” Pires said.
Most of the distributors donated an item for the raffle. The top prize is a six-month pass for unlimited categories at YogaSix, valued at $1,076.
The event is augmented by the Solstice Solute to the Sun, a large-scale yoga class celebrating the summer solstice, which took place on Thursday.
“We hope to attract a lot of other people to laugh while helping a smart cause,” Pires said.
Adriana Gutierrez, a fellow at Report For America, covers education and well-being issues for The Press Democrat. You can attach it to Adriana. Gutierrez@pressdemocrat. com.