Community Outreach

In addition to providing services to Erie County through long-established programs, GECAC identifies problems or challenges in our communities and provides the means and resources to solve them through partnerships with churches, schools, organizations, and businesses. Thank you to our amazing partners! Their members, students, staff, and parishioners truly are helping people and changing lives!

Warming Erie County

GECAC will distribute free blankets, socks, gloves, hats, boots, coats, and scarves through our Warming Erie County events. Warming Erie County is a partnership between GECAC and local churches and private schools. Parishioners, students, and GECAC employees have donated new blankets and winter clothing to help their neighbors in need before the winter weather arrives. Warming Erie County events are open to the public.

Locations & Dates-2025 TBD
Open to the Public

Giving Tree

GECAC gives Christmas presents to constituents through our Giving Tree program. GECAC presented gifts to seniors, men, women, and children. Generous churches, businesses, and GECAC employees adopt the families and purchase new gifts from their wish lists. Gifts range from pajamas, microwaves, and bedsheets to toys.

As the number of families and seniors facing financial hardship in Erie County continues to rise due to the high cost of housing, food, and medications, our Giving Tree partners' efforts and support mean even more. We are grateful to the organizations and churches who collected and donated gifts to our Giving Tree program. Thank you for helping GECAC uplift our community by bringing the joy of Christmas to 624 people! Our Giving Tree Partners: Cathedral Prep Swim Team, Erie Cancer Wellness Center, Dr. and Mrs. John Flamini, Elevate Church, Knights of Columbus – Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Knights of Columbus – St. Luke Church, Mercyhurst High School, Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, Senior Helpers, Sight Center of NWPA, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Haysite Reinforced Plastic and the Sunshine Group.

Locations & Dates-2025 TBD
Open to GECAC Constituents

Food Bags Events

Through collaborations with local churches, GECAC collected 372 bags of food and 135 grocery store gift cards to distribute to our constituents. Two local churches that participated in our Giving Tree Event noticed that more and more of our constituents were wishing for food as opposed to traditional Christmas gifts. They approached GECAC and asked if they could help address this growing need as they knew that food prices had skyrocketed and that many of our constituents have had their SNAP food benefits greatly reduced.

Locations & Dates - 2025 TBD
Open to GECAC Constituents

Spruce Up Erie County

Spruce Up Erie County is helping its neighbors who are unable to afford cleaning and hygiene products due to poverty. GECAC distributes free toilet paper, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, dish soap, laundry soap, sponges, dishcloths, and towels through their Spruce Up Erie County event. Spruce Up Erie County is a partnership between GECAC and local churches and private schools. Parishioners, students, and GECAC employees donate products most of us take for granted. The Spruce Up Erie County event is open to the public.