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
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June 2020
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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
I suppose if you asked people on the street, “What is Emmaus?” they would answer, “a place that feeds hungry people for free.” And they’d be right, to a point.
For the Record
Mask-Masking at the Monastery
Even with stay-at-home orders in place due to the pandemic, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie are trying to find creative ways to stay connected to the poor of the city. Spearheaded by Emmaus Ministries board member, Sister Anne McCarthy, OSB, a group of Sisters have taken on the work of making masks to distribute at the soup kitchen and food pantry.
Postulant Jacqueline Small and Sisters Jen Frazer and Kathy McCarthy sew the masks, while Sisters Stephanie Schmidt and Beth Adams team with postulant Colleen Leathley to cut the material for sewing. On May 1, Jacqueline and Emmaus staff member Sister Valerie Luckey dropped off a...
A Romolo Easter Continues
That Tony Stefanelli, owner of Romolo Chocolates in Erie, is loyal friend of Emmaus cannot be disputed…even during a pandemic. On Easter Wednesday, guests who came for their take-out dinner received a bag of sweets including jelly beans, marshmallow Peeps, and a taste of Romolo's chocolate. Emmaus staff members Sister Rosanne Lindal-Hynes and Rita Scrimenti, as well as soup kitchen volunteer, Annette Slater, helped put together these bags and prepared them to distribute.
An Erie treasure, Romolo’s candy shop and cafe has been donating chocolate and other sweets to the soup kitchen for many years. Sister Rosanne said, "Tony has...
Generous Hearts
“I honestly believe that Erie is a city filled to the brim with generous hearts and this present pandemic is more proof of that,” said Sister Mary Miller in response to receiving substantial donations from two local organizations. The Erie Community Foundation presented Emmaus with a $10,000 grant from its COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, and the Jewish Community Council of Erie voted to give Emmaus Ministries a $10,000 donation to help provide food for the needy during this unprecedented crisis.
“Then there’s the widow’s mite,” Sister Mary added. “I walked into the kitchen and on the counter, I found a jar filled with dollar bills...
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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.
Joan Martter Emmaus staff member Breanna Mekuly interviewed Joan Martter about her time volunteering at Emmaus. This is what she had to say. Breanna: How long have you been serving at Emmaus? |
Soup's On: An Emmaus Journal
By Breanna Mekuly, an employee with Emmaus Ministries
Months of January and FebruaryTim is one of the friendliest guests of the soup kitchen I’ve ever met. He always smiles and enjoys joking around. The other day as I walked past he called me over and, chuckling to himself, said: “Breanna, are you a nun yet?” I laughed and told him that’s not where my life is headed. “Well, if you keep working here,” he said, “I bet they’ll get you soon!” +++ Someday are better than others. Today was hectic at the soup kitchen. The cops came looking for one of our guy guests. A woman had a bad reaction to a drug she had taken and paramedics had to be called. Then another woman came in with a nasty attitude. But our volunteers and guests, of course, took it all in stride and treated one another with goodwill. +++ |
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.
+ Joseph V. Martone
+ Joseph J. Desser
+ Ronald N. "Ronnie" Sitter
+ Barbara A. Cunic Esper (vol)
+ Agnes S. (Kaliszewski) Kinem
+ Theresa C, Czupkowski Snyder
+ Rosemary (McCabe) Kaveney (vol)
+ Marie E. (Lubelski) Kuzmin
+ Joseph Nies
+ Cynthia Hauser Manna
+ "Connie" Bruno Ratajczak (vol)
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.