Do I hear $100?

Written by: Kate Snyder


It's that time again...EECM's annual fundraising event, A Flavor of the East End is just over a month away and the plans that have been under way since December are swinging into high gear. I got my introduction to silent auctions last year and discovered that door to door begging isn't so bad. This year we've been at it again.


It's fun to watch the lineup for the silent auction take shape. We get a lot of miscellaneous donations and then slowly they start to sort of group together and make sense. It goes something like: "Hmm...let's see. We have two kids dinosaur books compliments of Borders. Oh! And Babyland donated a rattle. And that blanket from Feathers is soft enough to be used for a little kid...I see a baby-centric basket in our future. Huzzah!"


My favorite item on the auction table is BIG, gorgeous, so-smooth-you-want-to-rub-your-cheek-against-it, carved cherry wooden bowl from a very funky shop on Walnut St. called Toad Flax (if you've never been, I suggest you go -- it's part garden shop part home decor). Sadly I fear that many other event-goers will also take a shine to it and my chances of coming out victorious after the bidding frenzy settles are slim to none. Sad for me. Good for EECM, so I can't complain.


In addition to the silent auction, we've been collecting goodies for our Mystery Boxes. What's a Mystery Box, you ask? Well, you'll have to stay tuned...

Congregational Snapshot: Saint Andrew's Episcopal

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

Welcome to the third post in our ongoing series highlighting the different ways that EECM’s Member Congregations provided support to our ministry. (Don't forget to check out the first two congregationals snapshot on East Liberty Presbyterian Church and Eastminster Presbyterian Church). Thanks to Jan Moravec, St. Andrews’ Council Representative, for providing the information for this window into St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s involvement with East End Cooperative Ministry!

St. Andrews is another church that was among the original 18 that founded EECM in 1970. Located in the heart of Highland Park, St. Andrews has an active community presence throughout the year – EECM is just one of their many involvements. They support “5 Talents,” a micro lending agency, the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund and the United Thank offering, a project of the Episcopal Church Women.

Every month, St. Andrew’s collects the food featured on EECM’s Food of the Month and their monthly donation usually tops 100 items. They have also claimed the fourth Friday of every month as their night at the Men’s Emergency Shelter, cooking, delivering and serving the evening meal to our shelter guests. The participating congregation members vary, but the meal is always delicious!

The members of St. Andrew’s are also generous supporters of EECM’s Have a Heart for Hunger campaign, taking up a special offering each spring in support of our Hunger Programs. In October, they take part in our Spread the Warmth Coat Drive and every Christmas, members of the congregation “adopt” EECM clients and purchase Christmas gifts for them.

Jan says that St. Andrews participates in EECM’s ministry because they are committed to Christian outreach to their more disadvantaged neighbors. They are also drawn to the interfaith component of EECM and welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with congregations of other faiths.

Market District

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

We are always eager to have volunteer groups at EECM. They come from a variety of sources -- particularly youth groups and schools. Sometimes we even get adult volunteer groups, which is fun. Last Friday was the inaugural day of what will become an ongoing volunteer project with EECM neighbor Giant Eagle Market District.

Market District has always been an active community partner -- they support our annual fundraiser financially and also regularly donate baked goods to the Food Pantry (to the delight of all!). About a month ago, they approached us about setting up a regular volunteer opportunity for their team members.

And last Friday the first three showed up for duty! Fridays are always busy in our hunger programs so we put them to work making sandwiches and packing bags in the Food Pantry and for Meals on Wheels.

In the weeks to come, Market District hopes to expand the program and have as many as eight volunteers each Friday on a rotating basis. Carrie, a member of the Communications Committee at the store and a driving force behind the project, says they're hoping to encourage a spirit of community service amongst store team members.

Great idea, Market District! And welcome!

Heart Results

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

Egad! It just occurred to me that, here it is two weeks after the conclusion of EECM's Have a Heart for Hunger Campaign, and I haven't shared the results. So here we go...the grand total is...(drumroll please)...$76,576 as of April 15th. Wow!

Let's put that number into perspective a little bit. First, the breakdown. A total of 261 individuals, congregations, businesses, and organizations made donations ranging from $5 to more than $6,000. These donors raised $46,576, allowing us to secure an extremely generous matching gift of $30,000 from an anonymous donor, bringing the total to that fabulous number of $76,576.

(To compare: last year's campaign raised a total of $68,324).

$76,576 -- that's a lot of money. In fact, it could provide:

More than 26,000 lunches at the Soup Kitchen

Meals on Wheels service for 40 clients for one year

Emergency groceries for almost 2,000 families

Operating funds for all of EECM’s Hunger Programs for 2 months

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the 2008 Have a Heart for Hunger campaign!

Congregational Snapshot: Eastminster Presbyterian Church

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

Welcome to the second post in what I swear is going to be an ongoing series of congregational snapshots – our chance to highlight the wonderful ways that local congregations support the work of EECM. It’s been a while, so feel free to go back and read up on the earlier post about East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Thanks to Laurie Miller, an Elder at Eastminster, for providing the info for this snapshot!

Eastminster has played an integral role in the planning, development, and funding of EECM since its beginning. Located on Highland Avenue at Penn Circle, Eastminster Church is an active participant in the East Liberty community. Their many programs and activities include the Judah Project, which provides low cost musical instruction; an NAEYC accredited Child Care Center; HOME, a housing ministry to assist low income families in becoming first time home owners; and a fully-equipped cardio vascular fitness center. The congregation describes itself as intentionally cross-cultural and has a diverse active membership of approximately 180 people. Beyond the Eastminster community, the congregation is partnered globally with churches in Mexico, Haiti, Malawi, Russia, and Egypt.

Eastminster’s involvement in the work of EECM has always been multi-faceted. They provide free office, meeting, and program space (EECM’s Administrative Offices are located on the second floor), as well as ongoing financial support. Up until a year and a half ago, our Meals on Wheels program operated out of the Eastminster kitchen and several church members are active volunteers in the program.

We can always count on Eastminster to participate enthusiastically in our other projects and “drives.” A collection bin is kept outside the sanctuary to receive ongoing food donations to the EECM Food Pantry and each month, Eastminster members provide a meal at our Emergency Men’s Shelter.

Laurie says that Eastminster church chooses to be a Member Congregation at EECM “because we believe that the services EECM offers provide for healthier individuals and families and therefore, healthier communities.”

Thanks for all your support, Eastminster!

Hoop It Up

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

It's Spring so that means it must be time for basketball! No, I'm not talking about March Madness and the NCAA. I'm sure college basketball is all well and good but what has really caught our attention here at EECM is the annual Hoop It Up Basketball Tournament organized by our dedicated Children & Youth staff.

Each year, EECM works hard to organize a three-weekend basketball tournament for youth. The participants range from third grade through twelfth -- this year there are 19 teams taking part in the tournament. The first weekend of play was last weekend, there's a qualifying round this weekend, and the finals will be April 12th.

As with all of our youth programming, the Hoop It Up Tournament combines learning and fun. The tournament has an educational focus as well as a recreational one -- this year, the staff are emphasizing violence and drug-use prevention. They distribute literature to the players and encourage them to sign pledges, asserting their desire to remain drug-free.

Good luck to all the players!