There are people
in the world so hungry,
that God cannot
appear to them
except in
the form
of bread.
Mahatma Gandhi
Emmaus Ministries
A commitment to the forgotten and the faceless of society – a Christian presence and outreach in Erie, Pennsylvania since 1974.
Soup Kitchen
Food Pantry
The Companion Newsletter
|
May 2018
 |
Mission
Contact Information
Emmaus Ministries, Inc.
345 East 9th Street
Erie, PA 16503
Phone: 814-459-8349
Fax: 814-459-8066
Email:
Sister Mary Miller, OSB
Margaret Kloecker
Rita Scrimenti
Breanna Mekuly
Emmaus Soup Kitchen
218 East 11th Street
Erie PA 16503
Sister Gus' Kids Cafe
310 East 10th Street
Erie PA 16503
814-878-2922
Breaking the Bread
From the Director
Sister Mary Miller
Dear Friends of Emmaus, Like most Catholic girls who grew up in the 40’s and 50’s I had a great devotion to Mary. My family prayed the daily rosary together, made 9-day novenas to her, and recited her litany during weekly Marian services...
For the Record
Visits from Erie City Officials
“I like this,” said Kathy Wyrosdick, Erie City Planner, while she looked around Emmaus Soup Kitchen. “I like how it feels like a house.”
The City Planner, Kathy, asked to visit Emmaus’ ministries to better learn about community efforts in the “East Bayfront neighborhood.” Kathy is helping to implement the Erie Refocus Plan, the goal of which is to strengthen neighborhoods by first understanding the needs and how needs are being addressed in each neighborhood and then working to further develop effective responses.
“We know that community meetings aren’t always the best way to garner information,” said Kathy, “so we’re...
The Employees Community Service Fund of GE
“Do you know what ‘GE’ stands for?” Sister Mary asked the board of directors of the Employees Community Service Fund of GE (General Electric). “To me, it stands for ‘Generous Employees,’ because that’s what you’ve always been for us.”
The Employees Community Services Fund of GE donated $15,000 to Emmaus Ministries this year.
The funds are collected by union employees who choose to donate a certain percentage of their paycheck each week to go towards helping the poor in the local community. The company then matches the amount that employees donate. According to the Fund’s president, Rob Celeski, “97% of our union employees...
Lemonade for Ice Cream
“Lemonade for sale!” the children of the Kids Cafe shouted as people drove and walked by. “Only 50 cents a cup!”
On a warm spring day, the children stood outside selling lemonade in hopes to make $60. “The goal of the children raising $60,” said Stephanie Grear, coordinator of the Kids Cafe, “is to go to Denny’s for ice cream.”
The following week, the children walked to Denny’s and each got an ice cream treat of their choice.
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Walking Together on the Road to Emmaus
Volunteers and Donors
Emmaus depends on many volunteers and donors at the food pantry, soup kitchen and Kids Cafe.Call 814-459-8349 if you would like to volunteer. Click here to make a donation.
Volunteer Profile: Marie Wolf Today I was the sous chef at the soup kitchen. Marie Wolf, a volunteer at the soup kitchen and food pantry for seven years, brought me in and taught me how to prepare a meal for 150 people. We prepared pulled pork, potatoes with butter and garlic, fresh fruit, chili, and chicken and rice soup. I had plenty of questions for Marie. Because of all these questions I had, I decided to do an interview with Marie so others could learn, too, what Marie does when she works with Emmaus' cook, Shirley Whaley, in the kitchen. |
Soup's On: An Emmaus Journal
By Breanna Mekuly, a new employee with Emmaus Ministries. She grew up in Wisconsin, studied theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School, and relocated to Erie this summer to intern with Sister Joan Chittister. She began working with Emmaus mid-fall 2016.
Week of June 11-15I enjoy addressing thank you notes to our donors. I’m fascinated by the amounts people donate, too. Emmaus receives everything from $1 and beyond. The donations of $1 – and there are a few – make me think a lot about my own sharing: if I share just $1 each time I think about people in need, I really could make a difference over time. +++ |
Remember Emmaus with a Memorial
We are grateful to family members who ask that memorials be made to Emmaus on the death of loved ones. Visit our secure site to offer a memorial.
+ Genevieve (Sienkiewicz) Skrzypczak
+ Gertrude Ann (Belczyk) Zawistowski
+ Edward J. Kaliszewski
+ Cathleen "Cathy" T. Quirk
+ Ruth Carter Meyer
+ John Joseph "Skip" Gasper
+ Michael J. "Mick" Dragoone
+ Charles "Chuck" G. Lindenberger
+ Ann M. Skapura DiMarco (vol)
+ Della Josephine (Rizzo) Delio
+ Ruth (Spiegel) Gray
Fulfill the Emmaus Wish List
We are in URGENT NEED of food items such as powdered milk, canned chili, beef stew or pasta, soup and canned fruit for our emergency bags. We ALWAYS need diapers (all sizes) and baby formula.
The Kids Cafe Store is in need of the following items:
Nail Polish
Travel size Kleenex
Pump bottles of hand soap
Dollar Store toys for Bingo prizes
Attention Bakers!!! We welcome homemade treats for our guests. If you're a baker, know that our Emmaus guests appreciate cookies, cakes, pies…sweets of any kind.
Call 814-459-8349 for more information or to schedule your donation.
Pray with Emmaus
Please join with the Emmaus community in reciting this prayer daily.
Prayer of St. Vincent DePaul
You will find that charity
is a heavy burden to carry,
heavier than the kettle of soup
and the basket of bread.
But you must your gentleness
and your smile keep.
Giving soup and bread
isn’t all that you can do.
The poor are your masters-
terribly sensitive and exacting
as you will see.
But the more demanding they seem
the more unjust and bitter
the more you must give them your love.