On Wednesday, February 18th you can help the homeless at Community Shelter Services by enjoying a basketball game! The Gannon University Golden Knights, who have a 16-2 overall record, take on Edinboro University’s Fighting Scots on the hardwood at the Gannon’s Hammermill Center starting at 7 p.m. Gannon’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee is asking the community to donate toiletries or make a financial contribution to the homeless shelter online . All proceeds that are raised will help serve the 1,000 men, women and children that turn to the agency when they have no place else to go in their time of need.

Save the environment while feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless at Community Shelter Services! Donate ANY BRAND of ink cartridges and cell phones to the agency so the proceeds can help those in their time of need staying in the emergency shelter or one of the single-room occupancy apartments. Community Shelter Services is teaming up with a program called the “Green School Project,” which allows the agency to earn funds to help feed and shelter those that are homeless in our community. It’s a quick and easy way to contribute!Donate ALL BRANDS of ink cartridges and cell phones that can be dropped off to the following locations:

Emergency Shelter (Open 24-hours-a-day)
652 West 17th Street
Erie, PA 16502

Lodge on Sass (Open 24-hours-a-day)
202 West 9th Street
Erie, PA 16501

Do you want to help the homeless at Community Shelter Services? Make a short video telling the Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union about how important this agency is to the community and you could win $1,000 for yourself, and $1,000 for the agency!

The Credit Union is hosting a video contest this January, February, and March. You can submit a video for consideration in the contest, or the Credit Union can film you talking about your cause RIGHT at our Credit Union branch locations (see schedule below)!

Just tell the Credit Union in three minutes or less (max. file size 100 mb) why you are passionate about Community Shelter Services.

Click here to visit our You Tube channel and upload your video and send it to denise@communityshelter.org so the video can be displayed on the Community Shelter Services website!

Videos will be judged by an independent panel and the winner will be announced during April 2009. The winning video will be shown in its entirety at the Credit Union Annual Meeting on April 21st, and the winner will also have the opportunity to appear in Credit Union advertising.

Filming Schedule:

Stop by these branch locations on the scheduled dates and times, and videotape a special message about Community Shelter Services! The staff at the Credit Union will upload your video to YouTube and enter you to win the Grand Prize!

Thursday, January 29:       38th Street Office, 2-4 pm

Friday, January 30:            26th Street Office, 2-4 pm

Thursday, February 12:     North East Office, 2-4 pm

Friday, February 13:          Hamot Office, 2-4 pm

Thursday, March 19:         38th Street Office, 2-4 pm

Thursday, March 26:         Main Office, 2-4 pm

Friday, March 27:              Buffalo Road Office, 2-4 pm

Recycling fundraiser helps beat the budget crunch at Community Shelter Services!

With your help, the agency can earn free office supplies like printing paper, pens and cash by participating in the FundingFactory Recycling Program. Please collect empty laser and inkjet cartridges and used cell phones from the community and send the waste products to Community Shelter Services. To view which cartridges and cell phones qualify for recycling, download this list fundingfactory_20081215.

The cartridges and cell phones can be dropped off to the following locations:

Emergency Shelter (Open 24-hours-a-day)

652 West 17th Street
Erie, PA 16502

Lodge on Sass (Open 24-hours-a-day)

202 West 9th Street
Erie, PA 16501

Join the following groups and organizations that are proud supporters of this recycling program:  Erie County Case Management and Lakeshore Community Services!

Would you ever want a child or another individual in our community to go hungry?  Or spend a night outside shivering in Erie’s harsh winter weather?

It’s a reality for many of the homeless in Erie County, unless you help today!

Community Shelter Services helps feed and shelter the area’s homeless for approximately $50 per day, but the agency depends on your generosity. Consider giving a gift to help those that are less fortunate. Everyone deserves to have a healthy, nutritious meal and a warm, safe place to rest at night.

The agency assists more than 1,000 men, women and children each year, but only with your help! Are you ready to make a difference?  Consider giving a gift of $50 for one day of food and shelter, $100 for two days of food and shelter or providing a gift that will help someone work through their difficult time. Donate online or send a check to:  655 West 16th Street in Erie, PA 16502. 
                To download and print this image, click on css-remit-slip.

Consider helping Erie’s homeless during the cold winter months by giving gently-used hats, mittens and scarves for all ages! For every item donated to St. Luke’s Catholic Church at 421 East 38th Street, a local business will contribute a $1 to Community Shelter Services. The monetary gift will help keep critical programs and services available for those in need in the Erie community. The church is open for donation drop-offs until 7 p.m. each night through December 22nd. It’s a fun way to make a difference for those in need of winter items to protect them against Erie’s cold winter weather! You can also help the agency by donating online at communityshelter.org today. Click here for directions to St. Luke’s Catholic Church:
View Larger Map

Help the homeless at Community Shelter Services now through November 22nd at six area branches of the Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union. Purchase a turkey feather for a $1 and all of the proceeds help purchase turkeys for a special Thanksgiving meal for the homeless men, women and children staying in the emergency shelter and the single-room occupancies such as the Lodge on Sass and the Columbus Apartments. To visit a credit union branch near you, look at a complete list of the six area branches supporting Community Shelter Services at https://www.egefcu.org/about/branch-locations.

Donations of food items can also be dropped off to the emergency shelter at 652 West 17th Street, anytime, day or night to help feed the homeless on Thanksgiving. The following items can feed someone that is hungry this holiday season:
                                                    Canned green beans
                                                    Canned carrots
                                                    Canned corn
                                                    Canned mixed vegetables
                                                    Stuffing mix
                                                    Salt
                                                    Pepper
                                                    Coffee
                                                    Creamer
                                                    Styrofoam cups
                                                    Hot chocolate (for the children)
                                                    Marshmellows (for the children)
                                                    Cake mix (for the children)

Community Shelter Services has family apartments known as the Jane Earll Family Apartments, which are located at 652 West 17th Street. This is an extended shelter-stay program for families who are unable to secure independent housing at the end of their shelter stay. Families may stay in these units for an indefinite amount of time or until they are able to secure housing within the community. Families staying in the Jane Earll Family Apartments are required to pay 30% of their income for rent. 

One family staying in the Jane Earll Family Apartments is in need of gently-used summer clothes for their children. The twin boys fit into 12 month-old clothes and the little girl needs summer clothes that are fitted for 18-24 months. The family is also in need of a double-stroller for the twin baby boys pictured here (Jayden is on the left, and his brother, Justin is on the right). If you have any gently-used clothes, please donate them to the agency by dropping the items off any time to the emergency shelter at 652 West 17th Street. Please specify that the donations are for the family in the Jane Earll Family Apartments.

Preemie Baby Clothes
Isn’t having a baby one of the greatest joys?  Well, two new arrivals are expected soon at the agency. New or gently-used preemie baby clothes for twin baby boys that are due in late October or early November are needed to help bring these little ones come into the world with the basic necessities. The clothes can be dropped off at the emergency shelter at 652 West 17th Street or a donation can be made online so the staff can purchase the needed baby items to help a family in their time of need.

Halloween Costumes
Although Halloween costumes are not a basic necessity of life, they do cheer up the children dealing with the serious issue of homelessness every day in the agency’s shelter. Gently-used Halloween costumes are needed for the twenty-five children of all ages staying in the emergency shelter. Please bring the Halloween costumes to the emergency shelter at 652 West 17th Street any time, day or night. Another option is to donate online and the staff will be able to purchase Halloween costumes for those children in need.

Kitchen Utensils
NEW place settings for approximately 60 homeless people are needed. The forks, spoons, plates, etc. will be used to serve daily meals and can be plastic. The current place settings are very worn after many years of use. Please consider purchasing new place settings or donating online so the agency can have the funds to buy these much-needed essentials. Currently, the shelter is at full-capacity, which is unusual for this time of year.