We can’t rescue all of the stray and abused animals, but we can help those who do.

In the month of September, please help us support the ANNA Shelter, a non-profit, no-kill animal welfare organization. We are accepting donations of bleach and bleach wipes, laundry soap, paper towels, bath towels, blankets, office supplies, and Purina cat/kitten chow. Items donated can be left in our donation box in the lobby.  Your help, as always, is appreciated!

Questions? Please contact Shelly Sheridan at [email protected] or 814-899-9622 ext 241

For more information on the ANNA Shelter, including pets available for adoption, please go to https://www.theannashelter.com/

Rep. Bob Merski is collecting school supplies for distribution to local schools.

School Supplies List

Drop off donations at the following locations:

Glenwood Park Y, 3727 Cherry Street
Eastside Family Y, 2102 Nagle Road
Rep. Bob Merski’s Office, 3921 Buffalo Road

Help us provide holiday cheer to area seniors who are lonely, in financial need, and unlikely to receive any gifts this holiday season.

You can find tags for these seniors on the giving tree in the lobby of the Eastside YMCA. These tags include first name of the participating senior, gift preferences and sizes, if applicable. Return the unwrapped gift(s) and bulb by December 13th. (Please take gift cards to the Front Desk so they may be kept in a locked office until picked up by Home Instead.) Gifts will be wrapped by volunteers before giving to recipients.

NOTES:

• When buying gift cards, any store or restaurant with a local location is fine.
• Gift baskets – if not specified, use your discretion. Can be snacks, cookies, coffee, personal care items, whatever you’d like.

The Y fosters the care and respect all people need and deserve. Join us in giving back to local homes and assisted living facilities!

Eastside Family Collection Details:  We are collecting items for residents at Twinbrook Nursing Home,

Twinbrook Collection List

Download the list or pick up a flyer at the Membership Desk or Childcare Center; then fill a reusable shopping bag with the items listed below- enough to feed 4-5 people. Then return your filled bags to your local YMCA.

Please note: Thanks to a generous donation from the local chapter of  Gideon International, we will have New Testament bibles to put in each bag!

ECM Thanksgiving List

For our social responsibility, Eastside YMCA is collecting supplies for Erie Homes For Children and Adults MOVE Program. MOVE (Making Opportunities for Volunteerism and Exploration) is EHCA’s licensed adult day program with a community focus. MOVE is designed to give adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities for success by providing them with choices and experiences involving community participation and creative expression.

Like many non-profits, EHCA MOVE has suffered from stagnant donations the past couple years. They are seeking the following:

Scrapbooking supplies

Craft supplies: canvas, glue, googly eyes, acrylic and water color paints, tie dye kits, yarn, holiday craft kits

Jewelry making supplies

Items can be dropped off in the donation box in our Lobby. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Questions? Please contact Karen McLellan at [email protected] or 814-899-9622.

In honor of Welcoming Week in September, the YMCA is partnering with the Multicultural Community Resource Center, Catholic Charities, and US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants – Erie to help them welcome new families to our area and serve the children in these communities with snacks for their after school programs. Thank you for your generosity!

Collection items

The Y is partnered with Foster Erie to provide placement bags to children 0-18 years of age. Placement bags will be given to each child at the time of placement into foster care. It is important to provide the child with a good quality bag full of new items they can call their own. When receiving a bag, the hope is that each child will be reassured of their worth and value.

Select an ornament off of the Giving Tree located in our Fireside Lounge. Each ornament lists the items needed for the placement bags. You can choose a size from preemie to 4X and choose to fill a bag solo or with a group of friends.  Drop off bags at the Welcome Desk.

Wishlist

How about a little charitable competition? We are collecting canned soup or other canned goods to donate to our local food pantries. Even if your favorite football team isn’t Super Bowl-bound, you can still root for their division. Donations can be placed in either the AFC or NFC bin. Let’s see which bin fills up first and which division earns bragging rights!

Donations will be distributed to the Ella Cochran and the Veteran Leadership Program Food Pantries.