Erie City Moms

Helping Erie's Mothering women break barriers, achieve their goals,

and transform their lives and their families!

Moms Night Out

Erie City Moms launched its first Moms Group, Moms Night Out, in 2016 on Erie's lower Eastside with a small group of diverse moms, grandmas, and aunts committed to building a community together. Today, we pack the house the first Monday of every month at the Boys and Girls Club, bringing together more than 60 Moms, 80 kids 0-16, and 45 volunteers and community partners. All Moms Groups include FREE dinner, childcare, transportation if needed, a story of hope and healing, prayer, basic needs donations, and connections to healthy community and local resources. 

M
eet Tammy* and her kids. They arrived an hour late at Moms Night Out. We didn’t know at the time, but Tammy’s abuser had just kicked in their front door. He left willingly, but Tammy needed comfort and loving guidance. T
a

m
my and her kids ate free hot meals. Then, while her children played with familiar friends and trauma-informed volunteers, Mom cried in the arms of a trusted mentor. We connected Tammy with local domestic violence resources. A few days later, our Housing Team repaired her door and our Basic Needs Team stocked her fridge to help keep the family afloat.Mon
t

hs later, we continue to provide Tammy and her kids with mentoring, community, education, empowerment, and prayer. Someday, Tammy will share her story and eventually, she’ll volunteer to help other Erie City Moms in ways she and her kids have been served. Moms

like Tammy want to do better for themselves and their kids, but without people willing to give of their time, connections, donations, and knowledge, they will stay stuck, isolated, and never achieve their true potential--and their kids will follow. It's

no secret that when Moms are Healthy, Kids are Healthier and Happier too!*Mom

oring The

heart of Erie City Moms' programming is "The Good Friend Initiative," one-on-one and group mentoring focused on braving maternal mental health and wellbeing, increasing social capital and community resources, increasing economic mobility and independence, and improving caregiving skills. All of this takes time--and in some cases, years. ECM mentors are committed to walking alongside Mothers from all walks of life as they work to set and meet their personal, professional, and family goals.Meet

 longtime member, Alondra. When ECM first heard about her, Alondra was pregnant and homeless, sleeping between her truck and one of our leader’s couches. She had a good job but life's circumstances had created a seemingly insurmountable situation for her and her kids.In f

all 2016, she found an apartment to share with her then-infant and elementary-age daughter. ECM provided furniture and groceries, and an invite to join our Moms Group, Moms Night Out.Alon

dra became an active member and quickly connected with ECM mentors. Together, they walked through job losses and wins, relationship challenges, parenting hurdles, balancing a budget, repairing her credit, and growing her leadership skills. She soon was serving as a leader at ECM and was eventually paid as our first Moms Group Director. With the help of Good Friends from Coldwell Banker Select, Alondra became a first-generation Black single-mother homeowner! Moms

like Alondra want to do better for themselves and their kids! Thanks to people willing to give of their time, connections, donations, and knowledge, she came out of isolation, believed for more, never gave up, and achieved her dreams--and her kids will follow!YOUR

2025 GIFT HELPS LAUNCH 3 NEW MENTORING CIRCLES:Lovi

• ng Myself While I Love OthersFrie

• ndships Without BarriersBudg

• eting for BeginnersStar

• ting on the Pathway to Home OwnershipHome

ownershipErie

City Moms assembled a formal Housing Team in 2021 comprised of realtors, business leaders, lawyers, contractors, and churches to tackle many home safety and quality-of-life issues for members struggling with housing insecurity and homelessness. A few tactics we use, include: Secu

r

• e and pay for apartment rentalEduca
  
  
  t
e

• and equip Mothers in the following topics: Financial literacy (including credit repair), home maintenance, first-time home buying, home ownership, physical and mental health services as needed, and community support systems/servicesHelp Mo
  
  
  m
s

• invest in the community/neighborhood they live in through community events and volunteerismCreate a
  
  
  s
a

• fety and quality-of-life checklist that includes items, such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, age-appropriate child safety hardware, and a washer and dryerEstablish r
  
  
  e
l

• ationships with quality landlords.As needs incr
e
a

sed, Erie City Moms' Housing Team expanded its goals to help Moms attain homeownership–true housing security, In August 2023, we purchased and began renovating a blighted 2,624 square-foot property at 226 East 10th Street in Erie. This two-unit residence will be used to house qualifying fami…