November 2016

Over 400 men and women joined the Erie City Mission in joyful celebration during the 105th Annual Banquet on October 13. Held in the North Great Hall of the Bayfront Convention Center, this year’s reception displayed the STEADFAST and unchanging work of the Mission; proving that together this is, “Our City, Our Mission”.

The evening featured special guest speaker, Anthony Hendricks; Senior Director of Life Recovery Ministries for the Nashville Rescue Mission. Celica Westbrook from The Voice, Season 3 provided musical entertainment throughout the night.

The 2016 Associate of the Year award was presented by Darrell Smith, Director of Operations and Men’s Ministries. Recipients, Christopher Winnen and Robert Kerner, both graduated from the Mission’s New Life Program (residential drug and alcohol recovery) and continue to demonstrate a steadfast commitment to a life of sobriety.

The Erie City Mission would like to thank you - the donors, volunteers, staff and community partners - who enable the Mission to carry on its purpose of providing hope where there is hunger, homelessness and addiction. No matter what storms may come, we remain STEADFAST.

For a digital copy of this year’s annual report, visit our website at www.eriecitymission.org/news-and-events/publications. To view pictures from the 2016 Annual Banquet, check out our photo album on Facebook.

STEADFASTOur Mission Carries On2016 annual banquet

Thank You to our Banquet Sponsors!

Photography by Mike Conway Photography

Erie InsurancePILLAR SPONSORS

UPMC Health PlanCOMPASS SPONSOR

United Health Care

2016 SPONSORS

Massage Envy

Strongman Services

AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania

Erie Community FoundationEuropean Wax Center

Mike Conway Photography

Because You Gave Erie Gives 2016August 9, marked another successful and record-breaking year for Erie Gives

2016, exceeding the $3 million mark. The project raised $3,451,087 during a

12-hour period.

The Erie City Mission, who has participated in the event since its debut in 2011, received $70,165 from 456 donors!

Because you gave, the Erie City Mission ranked #1 in number of donors who donated during Erie Gives 2016. Because you gave, the Erie City Mission ranked #6 in amount raised for 2016. Because you gave, the Erie City Mission raised $70,165 to continue reaching the hurting and the lost.

Monies raised from Erie Gives 2016 directly support the 12 programs and services of the Mission. Thank you for showing your support of , “Our City, Our Mission”.

Show your support for “Our City, Our Mission”

Hoodies are now on sale and can be purchased at our Main Office, 1017 French Street. All proceeds go towards

the programs and services of the Erie City Mission.

Zipper Hoodies are $35Pullover Hoodies are $30

available in black only. sizes run small. sizes over xl will need a pre-order.

For information on our services please visit our website

at www.eriecitymission.orgThe

a message from the Executive Directoron the Street

WORDGreetings everyone!

The ‘Word on the Street’ is that there has been and always will be HOPE!

The Erie City Mission has been steadfast for 105 years and will continue to meet the needs of the lost and least among us. We stand on a firm foundation as a beacon of hope to the City of Erie.

The ‘Word of God’ says, “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, that we have put our HOPE in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially to those who believe.” (I Tim. 4:9,10)

This is an eternal truth to those who put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ!

But, we must still deal in the physical realities and challenges of today. Many in our community still lack the tangible expressions of hope – sufficient food, clothing, shelter, a job, recovery from addiction, educational opportunity, etc. They struggle just to make it through another week and look to the Erie City Mission and our community for a helping hand.

The Mission stands ready and is gearing up to feed and care for even more of our community’s most vulnerable citizens this year. Thanks in advance to all of you helping with our Thanksgiving Food Bag Outreach! We’ve already given out 1,800 bags to be filled and pray that these tangible expressions of hope will bring joy and thanksgiving to the hurting among us.

Jesus reminds us, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40)

Let us continue to strive and pray for a renewed and vibrant Erie region -- where there is increased opportunity and prosperity and where no one is left hungry, homeless, trapped in addiction, and without hope.

I am grateful for your continued partnership and generosity as we continue to restore hope and transform lives. It’s a privilege for me to represent, ‘Our City, Our Mission’!

Steve

Mission Moments - "Our Season, Our Mission" by Carlos Lopez, Men’s Ministry Staff

Football season is finally here! So what does football have to do with our Mission? Let me tell you.

I am a very visual person who learns a lot by way of didactic visual "tools". Not to mention, I am also an avid Football fan; go Eagles! It just so happens to be the one team sport that depends highly on the chemistry players have with each other, along with the natural ability and talent each player possesses. One of the most hated teams in the NFL is New England. One of the reasons they're hated is because they are consistent at winning games. Their head coach, Bill Belichick, has instilled in them that one philosophy that makes every individual come together in one accord: "do your job".

Recently our Mission succeeded in reaching our goals during our fundraising campaign- thanks to the efforts of the Development Team. I'd like to consider these "players" our offensive line. Normally in the NFL they're the biggest guys on the team. Mind you, our Development Team is not big in stature, but in heart, drive and determination they exceed all of our expectations. They bring the necessary "protection" our offense needs to succeed at avoiding any blitz attack we might face when trying to score points in our community.

Our "Head Coach", Steve Westbrook is new on our team, but not to "the game". He has brought to us a "playbook" that will ensure our success as a team for seasons to come. I am very proud to work

under him even though I don't get the "ball" directly from him.

Our Offensive Coordinator, Darrell Smith, also likes to play "Quarterback". It runs in the family; his sister, Juanita Smith also plays "Quarterback". Under these two, the men and women in our community who are in need of some guidance on "how to play the game of life" receive the benefit of programs designed to ensure they don't “drop the ball" again and fulfill their designed roles in life. They both ensure the proper plays are called and relayed in a manner in which other QB's in their respective departments can execute a plan of attack against that "Great Blitzer" who is relentlessly trying to take down those in need of salvation. With Wide Receivers and Running Backs they can always count on to carry the message to where it needs to go, they never cease to keep their eye on the prize: a healed heart and a renewed spirit. I'll do a touchdown dance to that!

Our Defensive Coordinator, Rosemarie Lackey, plays a preventive role in our community by giving our youth and their families the tools needed to prevent our opponent, who just so happens to use a Serpent logo on their helmets, from "scoring" against our communities.

Our Special Teams, Thrifty Shopper , Warehouse, Family Care Center and Public Lunch staff, all have awesome coaches that manage to place the right players in the right place and ensure at some point

“Mission Moments”, continues on the back.

The Mission RestructuresThe Erie City Mission is excited to announce the following restructured positions in the respective departments:

Administration & Men’s MinistriesDarrell Smith – to Director of Operations and Men’s MinistriesExpanded oversight over day-to-day operations of Main Campus.

Development Ministries Tiffanie Page-Collazo – to Director of Strategic Development & GrantsFocus on grants, media relations and new strategic initiatives.

Erin Layden – to Director of Donor Relations and EventsFocus on donor communications/database and signature Mission events.

Social Enterprise MinistriesJodie Krumpe – to Director of Thrift Stores and Donation CenterImproved integration and merchandising of thrift stores.

KNOCKOUT TEN Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Be A Neighborhood Champion - Shop SmallFirst there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday; now there is Small Business Saturday.

This year, join millions of shoppers throughout the U.S. as they celebrate the Shop Small movement in support of localmerchants. Shop Small on November 26 and support your Erie City Mission and your community.

Embrace this new holiday shopping tradition by visiting one of the Erie

City Mission’s Thrifty Shopper stores.

Find unique treasures along with elegant gift ideas. From clothing and accessories to household items, furniture, toys and games, the stores have

something for everyone on your holiday gift list.

Erie Thrifty Shopper 2064 West 16th Street, Erie

Girard Thrifty Shopper 10081 Ridge Road, Girard

Giving Statistics for October 2015 - September 2016Because you gave...

Families/Households served though our Family Care Center

9,398Women received rehabilitation,

recovery and shelter

16Meals

prepared and served

145,721Approximate

number of shelter bed nights

16,352Men received

rehabilitation, recovery and shelter

88Children participated in our youth ministry

programs

35057,349Volunteer hours

served for an estimated value of

$458,792

GIVINGY E A R E N D

The last quarter of the year is a critical time for the Mission as we provide special holiday meals and prepare to meet growing needs of the year ahead.

If you’re looking for a way to help those in our community impacted by homelessness, poverty and addiction, then we humbly ask you to consider a special cash gift today, above and beyond what you’d typically share at this time. You might also choose to bless the Mission through one of the options below, which may offer you significant year-end tax incentives.

To learn more about these and other year-end giving opportunities, contact Director of Donor Relations and Events, Erin Layden at Erin.Layden@eriecitymission.org or 814-452-4421, ext. 222.

- Stocks and other securities (bonds, mutual funds, etc.), which allow you to give without depleting cash reserves.

- Products or services your company manufactures or provides that can be used to offset our budget.

- Real estate property, which can be used in our ministry to the homeless or sold to support our programs.

- Vehicles including cars, trucks and vans.

Check with your HR department to see if your company matches employees’ gifts and/or the value of volunteer hours to organizations like the Erie City Mission. Your holiday or year-end donation could be doubled.

November 15 -- Dine 2 Donate; Applebee’s Restaurant, West 12th StreetNovember 17 -- Tobacco Awareness, Great American SmokeoutNovember 21 – Thanksgiving Turkey Bag OutreachNovember 23– ECM’s Thanksgiving MealDecember 22 – ECM’s Christmas MealFebruary 21 – Knockout Homelessness 10, Bayfront Convention Center

Upcoming Events

Program Wish List

Interested in donating an item from this wish list? Please contact our offices at 814/452-4421.

*product details and quantities will be needed; call first.

Grace House

Facilities

Public Meals

New Life Recovery Program

Youth Ministries

Family Care Center

Samaritan Care Shelter

Mini van [appointment van]Industrial size washer and dryerCommercial vacuum cleaner

60" smart TV with wall mountLaptop computer *

60 New Life Recovery Bibles *Smart board [interactive touch screen for classroom]

Mini van112 plastic storage bins *

Double deep fryer *Food storage bins *

Gift cards to Lowes or Amazon.comCommercial vacuum cleaner

Commercial vacuum cleanerCommercial refrigerator [used]

F ULF I LLE DF ULF I LLE D

we get the ball back if we've lost it.

As cheesy as all these football metaphors may sound, they bring one truth to light; we are all part of this great team. We can't all be a "Coach" or a "QB", yet we all play a part to ensure we win this game.

Bill Belichick always reminds his players to just "do their job". Our Mission, Our Team, will continue to flourish as we encounter new challenges, as long as we just "do our job".

“Mission Moments”, continued from page 3.