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.
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
Valerie Luckey
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
This month Benedictine Sisters celebrate the feast of our patron, Saint Scholastica. We are told that she was the twin sister of Saint Benedict and founded many monasteries for women. There is only one recorded story from her life, but we tell and retell it with relish.
For the Record
Highlighting a Volunteer: Rosa Fatica-Showers
Looking for some hope? Let us present Rosa Fatica-Showers, a young professional in Erie with the leadership and dedication needed to meet her passions. Rosa first volunteered at Emmaus Soup Kitchen while she was in high school at Villa almost ten years ago.
After graduating from Gannon University, Rosa moved to Cleveland for a while to teach. She returned to Erie a year and a half ago and right away started volunteering at Emmaus. At first, she came alone, subbing for groups whenever needed. But when the pandemic hit Erie and the soup kitchen needed to make changes, Rosa was quick to organize her family members into forming a...
Soup's On Blog: O Christmas Tree
To read more blog entries, scroll down to the Soup's On section of the website.
It’s not unusual for someone to drop off gifts at the soup kitchen, no name attached. When a bare Christmas tree appeared on the doorstep, I left it there, thinking, “How nice, someone in need will get a free tree.”
Lo and behold, I returned the following day to see a guest of ours opening the box and setting it up smack-dab in the center of our lawn. As I left, I wanted to see if the man was still there, to ask him why he decided to set the tree up on an unusually sunny day for a December in Erie. But he was gone. I laughed to myself,...
Christmas for Kids Cafe Families
Christmas came early for Kids Cafe families when staff delivered gifts to homes on Monday afternoon. Kids Cafe coordinator, Stephanie Grear, along with staff members Ebony King and Irvina Slater, gave presents as well as other toiletry and food items to families who attend the after-school program.
A communal effort made this giveaway possible. Various groups and individuals donated items ranging from basketballs and footballs, to games and art supplies, as well as clothing and toys. Numerous apartment complexes and businesses had “Angel Trees” set up with gift suggestions for collections. Some businesses and individuals made...
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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.
Meet Darrell MeyersThe volunteers who show up at Emmaus day in and day out create the heartbeat of the ministry. Darrell Meyers has been part of that rhythm at the soup kitchen for over two decades. |
Soup's On: An Emmaus Journal
By the Emmaus Ministries staff
December 23, 2020It’s not unusual for someone to drop off gifts at the soup kitchen, no name attached. When a bare Christmas tree appeared on the doorstep, I left it there, thinking, “How nice, someone in need will get a free tree.” Lo and behold, I returned the following day to see a guest of ours opening the box and setting it up smack-dab in the center of our lawn. As I left, I wanted to see if the man was still there, to ask him why he decided to set the tree up on an unusually sunny day for a December in Erie. But he was gone. I laughed to myself, smiling at the joy this tree might give to someone else. My guess is that he understood a truth about the Christmas season: Joy connects us to one another. —Sister Valerie Luckey |
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.
+ Patricia Anne Copenhaver
+ Linda Griffith Kester
+ Calvin L. Pointer
+ Leona G. Mack
+ Thomas John Kasinec
+ John A. Jagodzinski
+ Michael D. DiSanti
+ Joseph A. DiBuono
+ Joseph V. Martone
+ Joseph J. Desser
+ Ronald N. "Ronnie" Sitter
Fulfill the Emmaus Wish List
You can always help us stock our shelves at the soup kitchen with ground coffee, instant tea and instant lemonade, jelly/jam, peanut butter, maple syrup, mayonnaise/miracle whip, soup, and canned fruit. We ALWAYS appreciate diapers (all sizes) and baby formula.
The Kids Cafe Store is in need of the following items:
School supplies
hand sanitizer,
Kleenex,
hair supplies (shampoo and conditioner, hair ties, brushes, picks, head bands, etc.)
Deodorant
Socks
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.