White Pine Center for Healing

04/09/2026

Our Storytelling Community is all about sharing and connecting through real experiences. Stay tuned—new reflection questions drop every few weeks to spark conversation and healing. We can’t wait to hear your story!

We’re excited to announce that we’re partnering with MemoryFox to ethically organize and share the stories we receive—whether you choose to remain anonymous or not—so everyone feels safe and respected in this space.

Stay tuned for our upcoming prompts, and please share this video with friends, family, and colleagues who may be interested in joining our community.

04/08/2026

Body image concerns rarely exist in isolation—they are often shaped within the context of family relationships, cultural expectations, and messages passed from one generation to the next. Our upcoming seminar on April 14th 11:30am-1pm at the CCA in Erie, PA, explores how attitudes about weight, appearance, food, and self-worth can be consciously and unconsciously transmitted within families, influencing how children, adolescents, and adults view their bodies.
To register for the event, e-mail marym@whitepinecenter.org

04/07/2026

Every body has a story—and your voice matters. 💚

What messages have you received about your body over the years? How have they shaped the way you see yourself? We invite you to reflect, share, and help break the silence around body image and healing.

Your story can inspire hope and change for others. Share with us at the link or QR code below. Together, we can create a community of understanding and support. 🌲✨

04/02/2026

We’re excited to announce the panel for our upcoming Lunch & Learn "Families: Understanding Intergenerational Impact of Body Image Struggles" which will be on April 14th at the CCA, 246 West 9th Street in Erie PA from 11:30am-1pm.

Join us and get tips from our panel on breaking the generational chain:

- Brandy Montgomery, LPC, WPC Clinical Advisor;
- Chris Fox, Community School Director at Diehl Elementary;
- and Sue Sweeney, MA, LAT, ATC, Mercyhurst University Campus Health and Wellbeing Director, Athletics Health Care Administrator, and ACE Certified Health Coach.

We’re honored to bring together such thoughtful voices to explore this important topic and the impact it has on individuals, families, and our wider community.
We hope you’ll join us for this special event.

E-mail marym@whitepinecenter.org to register for the event.

03/31/2026

Every year, La Nuova Aurora donates the proceeds from their small games to area nonprofits. White Pine Center for Healing is thankful that, for the third year, we are included in that gift.

Thank you for your generosity!!

03/19/2026

What messages have you received about your body throughout your life, and how have they shaped your story?

We’re continuing our "What’s Your Story?" storytelling initiative with a new prompt that invites reflection, honesty, and connection. 💬

So many of us carry words, expectations, and experiences that have quietly influenced how we see ourselves. This is a space to explore that—with compassion and without judgment.

You can share your story through writing, video, audio, or images—anonymously or with your name. You can also share on behalf of someone else whose story deserves to be heard. 🤍
Your voice matters, and your story could be the one that helps someone else feel less alone.

Submit your story and be part of a growing community rooted in healing and understanding.

(📅 Stories for this new prompt will be accepted until April 8th)

03/17/2026

We’re excited to invite you to our next Lunch & Learn! 🌲

As media and cultural conversations around body image continue to shift, this event will feature a panel discussion on “Families: Understanding the Intergenerational Impact of Body Image Struggles,” exploring how these messages are passed through generations and the important role families play in shaping healthier perspectives for the future.

If you’d like to attend, please RSVP as soon as you’re able by emailing Mary at marym@whitepinecenter.org to reserve your spot.

We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful community conversation. 💚

03/10/2026

We’re excited to share that we are partnering with (The Primary Health Network) to strengthen services, expand resources, and increase awareness around eating disorders and behavioral health in our community.

Collaboration like this helps us reach more individuals and families who need support, education, recovery, and prevention resources. We’re grateful to work alongside organizations that share our commitment to healthier, more compassionate communities.

Stay tuned as we create meaningful change together!

02/19/2026

We were recently awarded a Loving Giving Local donation from Auto Express KIA and would like to thank JET/FOX/YourErie and Lou Baxter for taking the time to share our mission and help amplify the message that Every Body Has a Story. 🌲 💚

With Eating Disorder Awareness Week right around the corner, the funds will be put to meaningful use — expanding services, building accessible online resources, and strengthening prevention programs that support families, adults, and children with body image issues, eating disorders, and more.

We are grateful for the support that helps keep our mission alive and our services available to all who need it.

The White Pine Center for Healing in Erie received a $250 Loving Giving Local donation this week to support eating disorder prevention and treatment. The funding, provided by Auto Express, will hel…

02/19/2026

PRESS RELEASE

Every Body Has A Story

Commemorating Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2026 February 23 - March 1.

Erie, PA., February 11, 2026. White Pine Center for Healing is pleased to announce Every Body Has A Story, a reception taking place on Monday, February 23 at 4:00 PM, and is being held at the Mercy Center Anchor Building at 1012 E. 28th St. in Erie. We are pleased to announce that Mary E. Machuga, Executive Director, along with organizational leadership, will officially unveil an exciting new initiative designed to significantly expand our services and programs throughout the Northwest Pennsylvania (NWPA) region.
This initiative represents a major step forward in our mission to reach more individuals and families who can benefit from our programs. Through strategic growth and innovation, we aim to increase access, strengthen community impact, and extend support through a safe, judgment-free online community, removing the barriers of isolation, stigma, and the lack of understanding that often accompany the experience of an eating disorder.
As part of this announcement, we will also introduce a new collaboration with a respected regional organization. This partnership will enhance our capacity, extend our geographic reach, and ensure that more people across NWPA have access to the vital resources and support they deserve.
White Pine Center for Healing is a 501(c)(3), located in Erie, PA. Our mission is to provide prevention, intervention, education, advocacy, and support to all community members experiencing eating disorders, body image issues, shape and size stigma, and the related issues of trauma, food insecurities, and obesity.

This reception is free of charge and is a community event.

Contact: Mary E Machuga
814-449-2147
marym@whitepinecenter.org

White Pine Center provides resources, education, & advocacy to promote body acceptance & prevent eating disorders. Explore our resources & programs today!

02/10/2026

What’s Your Story?
Everyone has a story worth telling, and being heard can be powerful!

Our new "Every Body Has a Story" Storytelling Community is a safe, welcoming space to share experiences around body image, self-acceptance, and healing through words, art, audio, or video.

We’ll be sharing reflection prompts that anyone is welcome to respond to, at their own pace. Participate as much or as little as you’d like. Share openly, listen deeply, and help build a community rooted in empathy, courage, and care.

Tag a friend, share this post to your feed and help us spread the word!
✨ Your story matters, and you're never alone!

SUBMIT YOUR STORY using the link below:
http://whitepinecenter.memfox.io/everybodyhasastory

🗓️ Deadline for stories for this prompt: February 28

02/05/2026

This week is Athlete Mental Health Week 🏅⚽🏀🏊🏋️‍♀️🎾🎳🚲🏂⚾
and we’re shining a light on something that’s often missed in sports conversations: RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport).

RED-S isn’t about “not trying hard enough.” It’s about what happens when the body doesn’t get enough fuel, physically and mentally. It results in declining athletic performance and alarming effects on the body.

60% of high school athletes – male and female– present with at least one of RED-S conditions. That way too high...

💬 So, Here’s the question we’re asking:

How might sports culture change if athlete health mattered more than performance, weight, or winning?

At White Pine Center for Healing, we believe protecting athletes means looking at the whole picture: mind, body, and the pressures they’re under.

🌲

We’d love to hear from you:
Have you seen (or experienced) signs of burnout, under-fueling, or mental health struggles in sports spaces?