By Taylor Hale

Associate Editor

PORTAGE COUNTY – Ana Marie Yoga in Stevens Point raised $2,520 during this year’s first online Yoga 4 Paws fundraiser for the Humane Society of Portage County (HSPC.)

The online, introductory yoga class was held on Dec. 12. Owner and instructor Ana Merchak said that the program had raised $11,303 since its inception seven years ago. Over 50 individuals logged on for the fundraising event.

“We wanted everyone to be safe and do our part to reduce (COVID) transmission in the community, but we also didn’t want to cancel this event,” Merchak said. “So we transitioned into making Yoga 4 Paws a virtual benefit via Zoom. People registered for the event online, and their $25 donation went directly to The Humane Society of Portage County.”

HSPC staff will use the funding to support their efforts in homing and protecting area animals. Merchak sees the event as a way to shine a light on the shelter’s services.

“Yoga 4 Paws helps bring awareness to the HSPC’s mission and also gets people thinking about adopting or fostering an animal from there,” Merchak explained. “With so many things being canceled this year, it was just really nice to connect with everyone online for that hour and do this event that we love so much.”

Sherri Galle-Teske, HSPC Director, and Beth Gardner, HSPC Treasurer, spoke on fostering animals and how to aid the humane society.