COMMUNITY SCHOOL LEARNING EXCHANGE

With the return of in-person instruction, United Way and Erie's Public Schools in partnership with the Blue Coats initiative have launched a critical component of the Safe Routes to School initiative… the Walking School Bus beginning with McKinley Elementary School, a United Way community school!

Imagination Library Statistics As of February 1, 2020 there are 9,117 children enrolled in the Imagination Library, plus 15,022 graduates, those having reached their fifth birthday. With the December mailing, a total of 800,638 books have been mailed since the first ones were sent out in July 2013.

Pfeiffer-Burleigh Co-Named for Legendary Composer

Above: Members of the Pfeiffer-Burleigh, a United Way community school, leadership team with members of the Burleigh Legacy Alliance on February 12 during the presentation of 5th grade class commemorative Harry T. Burleigh t-shirts distributed to each fifth grader.

In 2019, United Way of Erie County was selected to participate in a Pritzker Stakeholder Forum in conjunction with United Way of Pennsylvania, PA Partnerships for Children, and the Pritzker Foundation. The first forum was held in person thanks to partnerships with the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 1, Early Connections, Metz Culinary Management, and East Middle School, a community school, families received a meal, childcare provided on site and had the opportunity to share their thoughts on the supports available for families of infants and toddlers in Erie County.  The forum focused on access to children’s health and prenatal/maternal health, foundations for learning and development to support success in school, positive relationships between young children and the important adults in their lives and supporting families where all key caregivers work outside of the home.  Families had the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns with each other and the ELRC was able to glean important information to share back with UWPA, PA Partnerships for Children, and the Pritzker Foundation.  This information was then presented to key State policymakers. 

State-Level Data & United Way's Guide to 211 in NW PAPennsylvania has a state-wide network of 211 call centers, which allows United Ways to compare local data to other communities, as well as to the entire state.

211— a vital part of United Way Erie's mission to crush poverty in our community by focusing on family stability

In a crisis, in a disaster, in a pandemic, 211 is here to help every person in our community find food, pay bills, and connect to other essential services.

Meet Your Local United Way Staff dedicated to the people we serve to ensure a thriving Erie community
Name: Cheryl Bates 
Title: Program Director, United Way Erie FREE Taxes 
Years at UW: 10 years
Favorite thing about Erie is access to Presque Isle

Name: Joelyn Bush
Title: Director of Marketing and Communications 
Years at United Way: 7 
Favorite thing about Erie: I am a four-season…

Community School Directors show resourcefulness in 2020Community School Directors’ creativity, resourcefulness and flexibility have been critical to the success of continuing to support students and families with basic needs and supplies, technology, school attendance and behavioral/mental health services during the past 10 months.

Lessons Learned For 2021 Erie Free Tax PreparationWhen the pandemic reached Erie last March, all 16 United Way Erie FREE Taxes VITA sites were closed. Thousands of people had pending appointments that had to be cancelled.

Basic Needs & Supplies Pantries Receive Grant From Erie Women’s Fund
Imagine being a young child in Erie attending school, in-person or virtually, in dirty clothes, without a winter coat or boots, hungry or without having toothpaste and a toothbrush.

Won't you join us for special virtual update regarding United Way's 211 Helpline? 

At the end of what seemed like the longest year ever, many United Way Community Schools continued to struggle keeping their Basic Need Pantry stocked for all neighbor families to take advantage of.

When the volunteers of Mask Erie heard about students eventually returning to their school buildings, they wanted to do their part to help the community! 

Sara Musone, President of Community School Harding Elementary's PTO and board member of the Foundation for Erie Public Schools, knew this collaboration could make a big difference…

With all COVID-19 guidelines in place, Erie United Methodist Alliance (EUMA) in collaboration with Our Neighbor's Place will open the seasonal warming shelter beginning Wednesday, November 18.

In an effort to engage with families virtually, the team at Edison launched their first-ever virtual game night for families made possible with United Way of Erie County funding.

Check out the Edison Elementary Facebook page for all the details from Game Night!

The International Institute's MIRROR program, funded by United Way, had to adapt quite quickly amidst COVID as normally the program would have been implemented in person for families in need at community schools Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary and McKinley Elementary. 

The MIRROR program was created to address the complex, diverse, and interconnected needs of refugee youth – as they cope with acculturation stress or childhood trauma, as they transition into the US school system, and as they adapt to resettled life in Erie, PA. The MIRROR program was created to support teachers and school staff who “may feel ill-equipped to address the student’s need(s).” The MIRROR program was created to focus on “the challenges associated with trauma that impede English Language Learners’ ability to achieve academic success.” MIRROR programming is meant to include monthly assessments, supportive case management, streamlined referrals, group parenting and youth workshops, and interpretation support.

Community School Director, Tammy Rader was recently able to organize a Winter Gear Drive for students at Elk Valley Elementary. In addition to students and their families being able to pick up donated winter items, the Giving Pantry was also opened for families who could come in take things as needed. Special thanks to community school corporate partner Bonnell's Auto Group who purchased one of every item on the EVES Winter Gear Amazon Wish list which was a huge help! In total more than 30 families received assistance through this effort!

The YMCA of Greater Erie serves as the lead partner at Harding Elementary, a United Way community school. As lead partner, the Y recently put one of their greatest resources into action for the teachers and staff at Harding. Fall Fitness was implemented for the first time this year and provided teachers and staff at Harding with the opportunity to unwind and focus on self-care.