press release - midsummer's dream expects to raise 3,500 lbs. of food donations for living rock
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Press Release July 27, 2015
A MIDSUMMER’S DREAM FESTIVAL EXPECTS TO DONATE 3,500 POUNDS OF FOOD FOR LIVING ROCK MINISTRIES
HAMILTON, ON. Now in it’s fourth year, a Midsummer’s Dream Festival is setting its sights on accomplishing a new goal, to raise at least 3,500 lbs. in food donations. All donations will be provided to Living Rock Ministries, an only youthfocused food bank that offers youthatrisk a place of belonging, safety and a bridge to the community. Donations can be dropped off at locations provided by festival sponsors Judy Marsales offices, Hamilton Sport & Fitness, Narula’s Eatery & Banquet Hall, Where Heads Meet, and Hamilton Artists Inc. “A Midsummer’s Dream raised over 2,000 pounds of food in 2014 which has helped feed over 1,500 youth who access Living Rock Ministries, a 29yearold resource centre for atriskyouth in downtown Hamilton. We look forward to the continued partnership with A Midsummer’s Dream as they help Living Rock engage, encourage, and equip atriskyouth between the ages of 13 – 25,” said Joel Van Steenbergen, the Volunteer Coordinator at Living Rock Ministries. The festival takes place on August 15th at Gage Park between 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. It has grown from 800 attendees in its inaugural year in 2012 to an attendance of 4,000 in 2014. This year, we’re aiming for our greatest success yet. We’re not just dreamers, we’re also doers. “I am really glad that we are able to contribute to the community, in a time where food donations dry up the most. Living Rock is a great organization to support because they are actively providing solutions for the youth,” said Mark Gowland, the founder and organizer of A Midsummer’s Dream. In previous years, a Midsummer’s Dream has donated to Good Shepherd Centres and Neighbour to Neighbour. Every year, we ask that festival goers bring a nonperishable food donation in place of an admission. With your help and support, we have raised over 5,300 pounds of food donations in the past three years. FLASH FACTS
● Summer is the driest period for food donations.
● A Midsummer’s Dream expects to raise 3,500 lbs. of food to feed approximately 2,625 youth.
● All nonperishable food items will be donated to Living Rock Ministries.
● A Midsummer’s Dream festival will be accepting food donations prior to the festival at
designated drop off zones, provided to us by our sponsors. All locations are listed on the next page.
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OFFICIAL DROPOFF LOCATIONS (FOR NONPERISHABLE FOOD
DONATIONS)
JUDY MARSALES (All offices) Westdale 986 King Street West Ancaster 253 Wilson Street East Locke St. 263 Locke St. S.
HAMILTON SPORT & FITNESS 288 Queenston Road NARULA’S EATERY & BANQUET HALL 1162 Barton St E WHERE HEADS MEET 162 Ottawa St N HAMILTON ARTISTS INC. 161 James St N
FESTIVAL PROGRAM WHAT: Colour festival and food donation raiser WHEN: August 15, 11 a.m. 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Gage Park, 1000 Main St. E A Midsummer’s Dream has something for everyone.
● COLOURS: Every 20 minutes, we gather in a big group and throw colours in the air to signify how all people of all walks of life can come together and create something beautiful.
● MUSIC: This year, we will be featuring talented musicians and artists on the Judy Marsales Stage such as Young Empires and Sophia Shy and many more. The diverse genres of music that will be played are Rock, EDM, Indian Sitar, Kirtan Chanting and Alternative.
● FITNESS: Fitness fan? Have a shot at Bubble Soccer or an inflatable obstacle course, hosted by Hamilton Sports Multiplex.
● COMMUTE: Ride your bike to the festival and park it in our Mountain Equipment Coop sponsored bike valet. Store your bike for $2.
● FOOD: Hungry? Grab a bite from our Food Sponsor Narula’s or other food vendors.
● CREATIVITY: The Temple of Creativity will satisfy anyone looking to get their art on. We’ve got oragami, incense making workshops, tie dye workshops, and an abundance of arts and craft materials that should make anybody an artist.
● YOGA: Send a mighty warm thank you to iHELP Entertainment, they’re bringing Yogafest to a Midsummer’s Dream! Enjoy free yoga in the park. Namaste.
● SHOP: Shop and explore our craft vendor market.
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ABOUT About A Midsummer’s Dream: A Midsummer’s Dream is the most cosmic
festival on the entire planet. Celebrating unity, peace, happiness and joy, it is inspired from the Holi Festival of Colour in India, a Hindu festival that celebrates the renewal of spring and the triumph of good over evil. When A Midsummer’s Dream was created, it was created with a single purpose. The purpose to aid with the movement in helping humanity push forward towards a bright new future that embodies inclusion, balance, and service. It was created to serve as a massive force for good in the community, and to create a spiritual vibration that would echo through the energies of the people who attend. We want to bring a diverse group of people together and encourage them to do acts of good and make positive changes in their communities. We want to honour the principles of Holi, and share that message here in Hamilton, in hopes of opening the hearts and minds of all who attend. We’re not just dreamers, we’re also doers. To date, we have raised just over 5,300 lbs of food for local food banks. This year, our food bank partner is Living Rock Ministries in support of streetinvolved youth and we hope to raise 3,500 lbs of food. You can follow us on Twitter, @hamontcolour, on Facebook at facebook.com/amidsummersdream, or on our website at midsummersdream.ca. For more information please contact:
Mark Gowland, Event Founder Email [email protected] Phone 905 577 7306 Kayla Perna, PR & Social Media Coordinator Email [email protected]
Christina Aikey, PR & Social Media Coordinator Email [email protected] Sherry Mousavi, PR & Media Lead Email [email protected]