White Pine Center for Healing

02/19/2026

We were recently awarded a Loving Giving Local donation 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?

01/29/2026

Something new is growing at White Pine Center...

We’ve been quietly planting seeds, and soon, we’ll be sharing new resources, tools, and support created with care for our community.

And yes… there’s a BIG announcement coming that you truly won’t want to miss!!

💚 Help us spread the word:
• Like & comment to boost this post
• Share with someone who might benefit
• Follow us everywhere so you don’t miss what’s next

📍 Find us on:
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest | YouTube

📬 And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for first access and special updates

This work is about connection, compassion, and community—and we’re so glad you’re here with us. Stay close. More is coming. 🌱

01/13/2026

Since many of our New Year's Goals revolve around fitness or new exercise routines, We wanted to share some common myths that may be detrimental to your overall well-being and mentall health in this new year, especially in regards to body satisfaction.

It’s worth pausing to question some of the fitness messages we’ve been taught to accept without question.

Here are 3 fitness myths to leave behind this year:

Myth #1: "You have to earn rest"
The truth: Rest supports consistency, recovery, and long-term health. It is not a reward—it is a requirement for both physical and mental well-being.

Myth #2: "If it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t count"
The truth: Safe, effective movement respects your body’s limits. Pain is not proof of progress. Listening to your body helps prevent injury and builds trust in movement over time.

Myth #3: "Exercise is about changing your body"
The truth: Fitness can support strength, energy, resilience, and joy at any size. Healthy movement exists to support your life– not to punish your body or force it to look a certain way.

This year, we invite a shift away from control-based fitness and toward movement rooted in care, sustainability, and self-respect.
Your body is not a project.
It’s a partner in your life.

Every body has a story– and yours deserves compassion.

01/07/2026

Please share the news! This will have a huge impact on eating disorder treatment moving forward.

12/13/2025

All shapes and sizes deserve respect – without exception.

The recent public commentary surrounding the Wicked film stars and their bodies is not just celebrity gossip. It reflects a much deeper issue: how normalized weight stigma has become in our culture, regardless of body size. Comments framed as “concern,” “compliments,” or speculation still cause harm. They reinforce the false idea that a person’s health, worth, or story can be determined by appearance alone.

Weight stigma affects people across the spectrum – those in larger bodies, those in smaller bodies, everyone in between and those experience invisible illness. It fuels anxiety, disordered eating, and shame, and it creates an environment where no body ever feels “safe” from scrutiny.

We explore this more deeply in our latest blog post, including why these conversations matter, how they impact mental health, and what we can do differently – starting now.

👉 Read the full blog post (link in comments)

11/26/2025

On October 22nd, our team at White Pine Center for Healing had our second Lunch And Learn event at Erie’s Commonwealth Charter Academy to share our Confident Body, Confident Child program, an evidence-based initiative focused on preventing poor body image in children and nurturing lifelong confidence.

The turnout was amazing. We were blown away by the number of educators, parents, and supporters who showed up ready to learn, connect, and have honest conversations. A heartfelt thank you to Debbie Uht, President at PCMSI, whose generous sponsorship made this event possible. Your dedication to the wellbeing of young people is truly appreciated. 💚🌲

We’re deeply grateful to every participant who showed up with openness and vulnerability. These kinds of conversations (where we name the hard stuff, hold space for each other, and explore new ways to support our kids) are invaluable. This is how strong, confident communities are built.

Because of the enthusiasm and thoughtful engagement we witnessed, we’re already planning more Lunch & Learns on this empowering topic in the future. Stay tuned because there’s so much more good work to come.

Together, we are raising a generation that feels strong in their bodies, secure in their worth, and confident in who they are.

11/14/2025

NEDA celebrates and thanks for this incredible advocacy win!🎉 BREAKING: Congress just passed EDC’s report language into law! Schools are now requested to include eating disorders education in local wellness policies. USDA must report on progress within 120 days. A huge step forward for prevention and education.

11/13/2025

11/13/2025