January
Helping a couple of shelter pets
ECCA sponsored a dog and a cat the Erie Humane Society. This sponsorship covered the adoption cost for Zeba (a two year old Akita) and Ginny (a two year old, short haired, brown cat).
Assisting Grover Cleveland's community school
ECCA donated a couple of family activity baskets - one for a game night and another a baking collection - to Grover Cleveland for their Winter Fest.
Assisting Our Neighbor's Place
Bob delivered clothing to EUMA for the Our Neighbor's Place seasonal overflow shelter. Our Neighbor's Place offers guests a warm and safe place to sleep during the winter months. In addition, the shelter provides food, an opportunity to shower, hygiene necessities, and other services.
Hopping to the rescue! đ°
Erie Area Rabbit Society & Rescue (EARS) recently put out a request for newspapers; they use them to line the bunnies' cages. Cordie and Sandra graciously hopped right up and delivered stacks of newspapers.
Supporting local businesses' new endeavor
During summer, we invite a food truck to our office for the staff and the other businesses in our plaza to enjoy. For the past few years, The Waffle Miracle has been our go-to choice. For Fifty Fridays, Bob delivered some flowers to wish The Waffle Miracle and Before the Barrel Distillery the best of luck in their new endeavor.
February
Helping to line the red carpet
ECCA assembled a crew to help line the red carpet at Erie's Night to Shine. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom-like experience celebrating people with special needs. With positive vibes in tow and glow wands in hand, we cheered on these queens and kings on this special night!!
Will you be our Valentine?
To help spread a bit of love on Valentine's Day, Lauren, Schuyler, Brianna, and Sandra made homemade cards for the residents at the Dunkirk Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Making deliveries for Meals on Wheels
Not to be deterred by the wintery conditions, Caren and Michelle are volunteering with Meals on Wheels. They'll be delivering meals to some home-bound residents in our community.
Delivering lunch to the Erie Zoo staff
The Erie Zoo has been a community staple for 100 years now! To honor this significant milestone and help them roar into their centennial year, members of our Primarius team had lunch delivered to the Erie Zoo staff.
March
Bringing some cookies to the Y
In celebration of their 165th anniversary, Kathy dropped off some locally baked cookies at the YMCA of Greater Erie. The Y provides a range of services and programs in support of our community. We congratulate them on this significant achievement and wish them all the best!
Giving thanks to the food bank staff
Diane and Ghana delivered baked goods from Brew Ha Ha to the staff at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. Recently, the food bank announced Greg Hall as the new CEO. We congratulate Hall on his appointment and wish the team all the best in carrying out their mission for a hunger-free community.
Stepping up for Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels sometimes struggle to find volunteers this time of year, with many people heading south to warmer weather for the winter months. Matt and Cordie were more than happy to step in and help ensure meals got delivered to the residents in need in our community.
Bringing some Girl Scout cookies to the Mercy Center for Women
Dave stopped by the Mercy Center for Women with a special deliveryâsome Girl Scouts cookies and other essentials for the residents they serve. The Mercy Center for Women provides safe, supportive, and empowering housing solutions for families in transition, with a focus on those affected by domestic violence, addiction, and mental health challenges.
April
Donating supplies to Grover Cleveland Elementary
ECCA is a member of the corporate coalition that supports the community school initiative at Grover Cleveland Elementary. After learning about what supplies we had available to donate, J.J. delivered water bottles, a laminator, binding equipment, and supplies to the school so they can be used by the school faculty and students.
Celebrating a local business's success
Leo and Mark cut out of work to deliver flowers and assorted chocolates to Noeâ Noonan to celebrate their success in business. Noeâ Noonan is a locally owned cosmetology school that is built and run by women hairdressers. Starting any business is hard and so we congratulate Noeâ Noonan on their success and wish them all the best for many years to come!
Recognizing Ferrier's 80th year in business
Mallory hopped on over to Ferrierâs Hardware to deliver an Easter basket full of goodies. In 2025, Ferrierâs Hardware is celebrating their 80th year in business. This is a truly impressive milestone and speaks to the neighborly approach they take for customers in need of supplies for their various home projects. We congratulate them on their anniversary and ongoing success!
Presque Isle Partnership's Annual Spring Cleanup
Sometimes a #FiftyFriday falls on a Saturday, especially when nature calls. And so it was as ECCA sent out a crew to volunteer for the Presque Isle Partnershipâs annual spring cleanup. The team began at the lighthouse and worked their way east, picking up trash along the way.
May
Hoping for sunny days ahead đ
You know summer is just around the corner when Waldameer Park opens for the season! To express our hope for a pleasant summer full of cooperative weather, Lew and Leo delivered a sun-themed basket filled with sunflowers, sunscreen, and assorted candies.
Stamp Out Hunger
Fifty Fridays didnât get lost in the mail this week. Far from it. Instead, ECCA pushed it back a day so they can help Stamp Out Hunger! Multiple employees participated in the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest PAâs annual food drive.
Helping families in need
For the past month, ECCA employees have been bringing in new and gently used towels, bedsheets, comforters, pots and pans, and other kitchen utensils. Today, our collection was delivered and donated to the Center for Family Services in Meadville, PA.
Fun times at the carnival!
As part of ECCA's ongoing commitment to the Grover Cleveland community school, Diane and Aaron volunteered at their Cougar Carnival Friday night. With the skies clear, the kids and their families were able to have fun both indoors and out. And we certainly enjoyed helping out to ensure that fun was had by all.
Welcome to the neighborhood!
A little over a block away from the main ECCA office, the Bay and Berry Cafe opened up this week. To be a good neighbor and welcome them to the Peninsula Drive neighborhood, we delivered a basket of treats. We congratulate Sam, Cindy, and the rest of the team at the Bay and Berry Cafe on their opening and wish them all the best on their new adventure!
June
"Clap Out" at Grover Cleveland đ
As the school year winds down, ECCA sent a crew to Grover Cleveland to âClap Outâ and cheer on the fifth graders! They will be taking the next steps in their educational lives by moving on to middle school in the fall. We congratulate all the students and wish them a safe and happy summer! And especially to all those fifth graders today â You got this! đ„ł
Arts & Crafts #FiftyFriday!
Michelle and Austin delivered supplies to the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House. They delivered sketch books, markers, air dry clay, some snacks of course, and other items in need. The Inner-City Neighborhood Art Houseâs mission is to help empower youth through different creative experiences. This includes drawing, painting, sculpting, dance, martial arts, and other forms of art.
Helping those in need during a heat wave
After seeing a report on the local news about the upcoming heat wave and its impact on our local homeless population, several employees decided to help. Tracy, Adrienne, and Bob delivered several packs of bottled water to Community of Caring. The organization keeps water in coolers in front of their building. In addition, theyâll distribute water at various parks to help those in need.
Heading out to the woods
On this lovely summer morning, a handful of green thumbs headed out to the woods for #FiftyFridays! At Asbury Woods, our volunteers did some weeding around the Celebration Garden. With shovels in hand and surrounded by fresh air, our amateur gardeners helped tidy up an area of the grounds to keep it beautiful for the numerous visitors. Now stop scrolling, get outside, have fun, and enjoy the outdoors! đ
July
Happy Birthday to the expERIEnce Childrenâs Museum! đ
To help celebrate their 30th birthday, Cindy and Kathy brought some cupcakes and balloons to wish the staff a happy birthday. While their age may technically make them adults, the expERIEnce Childrenâs Museum holds on to that childlike sense of wonder and does a remarkable job keeping it alive in our community.
Get Baker'd Up! #ShopLocal
Doug delivered some cookies that were dressed to the nines to Isaac Bakers. After being located downtown for many years, the retail store relocated to the Village West Plaza on West 26th Street earlier this year. We congratulate Dave and his team on their new location and wish them continued success for many years to come.
Supporting families experiencing premature births
#FiftyFridays was a little extra special this week as ECCA collected gas gift cards and preemie clothing and diapers for Gradyâs Decisions. Leo delivered the donations to the organization on Wednesday, July 23rd - the birthdate of the organizationâs namesake.
August
Showing some appreciation to our volunteer fire department đ
So far this year, weâve supported many small businesses and non-profits alike for #FiftyFridays. This Friday, we wanted to do something a little different by bringing some good cheer and appreciation to our local volunteer fire department. Sandra and Mallory delivered some baked goods to the West Lake Fire Department.
Play ball! âŸïž
As summer winds down, we used this Fifty Fridays to recognize our local summer sports programs. Catrina and Charlie donated all the baseball dugout essentials - Gatorade, sunflower seeds, and lollipops - to a local youth baseball event.
Celebrate Erie Chalk Walk
For this weekâs 50 Friday, Michelle, Mallory, and Aurora dedicated their time, showcased their talents, and filled State Street with creativity as ECCA proudly sponsored the 2025 Celebrate Erie Chalk Walk in honor of our 50th Anniversary!
Welcome back to school!
As we get closer to the start of the new school year, Carla dropped off some prizes for the family raffle at the Grover Cleveland Elementary Schoolâs open house. This will be ECCAâs second school year as a coalition member supporting the community school at Grover Cleveland Elementary. We remain firmly committed to this cause and look forward to showing up to support the students throughout the year!
Roar into the school year
As the kids return to the classrooms, Cindy and Aaron provided a warm welcome on the first day of school. On Monday at Grover Cleveland Elementary School, they helped the Cougars âroar into the school yearâ by lining the red carpet and cheering on the students as they entered the school building. It was a joy helping to bring some positive energy for both the students and the parents.
September
Fostering a love of reading
As part of our continued support for students as they return to the classrooms, Shahad purchased 50 books at Werner Books. These books will be awarded to kids through the WQLN PBS Q-Kids Readers program. This fun initiative encourages kids to discover the joys of reading. Each month, kids in the program track the time they spent reading or having someone else read to them. By supporting kids in their reading adventures, the program hopes to improve their literacy while developing a lifelong love of reading.
Hunger Action Month
September is Hunger Action Month. When we saw our locally owned Donatos Pizza franchise was donating part of their proceeds to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania on Tuesday, well, it became pizza day at the office! Hunger Action Month is a Feeding America national campaign to raise awareness and to help bring an end to hunger in our communities.
Our Continued Support of the Grover Cleveland Community School
This week, we wanted to personally recognize Sharnae, the Community Schools Director at Grover Cleveland, for her incredible leadership and commitment. Her work helps remove barriers to learning and ensures every child has the opportunity to thrive. To show our appreciation, we treated Sharnae to dinner at Bistro26 and surprised her with flowers â a small token of gratitude for her big impact.
Cheers to a successful run in the bar business!
The start of a new business is always a very exciting time. However, after some time, an owner may decide to close said business. And so, for this #FiftyFriday, we bid a fond fare thee well to the Rathskeller Café. Sue brought a custom engraved beer stein to John Carneval. The Rathskeller Café is closing its doors for good after this weekend. We congratulate John and the Carneval family on their successful run in the bar business.
October
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ECCA collected donations for the Erie Cancer Wellness Center and proudly delivered a check in support of their mission, which directly impacts local families. Weâre grateful to our amazing clients who stopped by, donated, and celebrated with usâtogether we made a difference!
World Mental Health Day
In recognition of World Mental Health Day, Bob delivered a care package to the Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Included in the package were personal hygiene items to be distributed to the individuals they serve. We also brought some fresh baked goods from Artâs Bakery for the staff, in appreciation for the work they do.
Volunteering at the food bank
For Fifty Fridays, we sent a crew to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania to help feed our neighbors in need. During the volunteer shift, our group formed an assembly line and packed food boxes. Our local food bank plays a critical role addressing hunger issues in our community. Weâre proud to support them in this cause.
Sponsoring Snuggles for one year! đ°
In 2022, we introduced the Employee Company Commitment Award, or The Ecca. This award was introduced as a way to recognize an employeeâs otherwise unheralded work for the company. At our recent anniversary dinner, Sandra Cote was announced as the 2025 recipient of The Ecca award! As part of her prize, we offered to sponsor a bunny in her name at EARS. This is a cause near and dear to Sandraâs heart. And so, for this Fifty Friday, we sponsored Snuggles for one year!
Trunk or Treat đ đŽââ ïž
Alas the ECCA Pearl hoisted her flag and set sail to Grover Cleveland Elementary for this #FiftyFriday! While the inclement weather forced the âtrunk or treatâ indoors, it certainly didnât damper anyoneâs Halloween spirit. Kids were invited to walk the plank to our treasure chest for some sweet loot, lest it all be lost to Davey Jonesâs locker, shoved in the back behind his third period math homework. Arrrrgghhhhhh!!!
November
Treats for Troops
For last weekâs Fifty Friday, we handed out treats at Grover Clevelandâs Trunk or Treat. However, we ended up with some excess sweets. And so, for this Fifty Friday, Halle is donating that extra candy to Soldiers' Angels Treats for Troops. This organization makes it its mission to ensure no soldier goes unloved. We are proud of the commitment and sacrifice those in service make to ensure our everyday freedoms. And we are happy to send along a little bit of sweetness to those serving away from home.
Blizzard of Blankets
For this Fifty Friday, we donated blankets to The Upper Room of Erie for their annual "Blizzard of Blankets" drive. This organization opens its doors to those in our community who are facing homelessness, offering warmth, care, and a place to belong. We are grateful for the work they do every day, and we are humbled to support their mission in even a small way.
Contributing to Thanksgiving meal kits
With the upcoming Thanksgiving break, Grover Cleveland Elementary school is offering families free meal kits. For this #FiftyFriday, our employees collected the ingredients for the different meal options to help contribute to this program. These meal bags contain all the ingredients necessary to create a complete yet easy-to-make meal at home.
Stuffing a bus with toys
The EMTA held a toy drive for "Toys for Tots." ECCA bought an assortment of new toys that Caren and Halle delivered to the Millcreek Mall where the EMTA trolley was parked and collecting donations. This time of year, there are many fundraisers to help those in need, whether to provide gifts for the upcoming holidays or protection from the cold weather. We're both fortunate and proud to be able to support these initiatives and to help those in our community.
Winter Sock Drive
For the past couple weeks, we asked our employees and even clients to donate some socks to help provide a bit of warmth to those in need. Valerie and Bob delivered our sock collection to Community Shelter Services. This organizationâs mission is to rebuild lives by providing refuge and pathways to stability for adults experiencing homelessness and poverty in our community.
Recognizing the MBA's 120th Anniversary
Throughout the year, the MBA visits area businesses celebrating significant milestones. They present these organizations with a plaque commemorating their anniversary. ECCA itself graciously accepted a 50th anniversary plaque earlier this year. We returned the favor and presented the MBA with their very own plaque in the form of a cake. The organization is celebrating their 120th year in business. We congratulate them on this milestone and thank them for all that they do for the manufacturer and business community at large.
Helping out Icela and Ace
When we kicked off our #FiftyFriday initiative back in January, we began at the Erie Humane Society, sponsoring the adoption fees for Zeba and Ginny. This was done, in part, to honor and recognize ECCAâs founders Hank and Joanne Starrâs love of animals. As 2025 concludes, it is only fitting that for our 50th Friday, we return to where we started. Today, we happily cover the adoption costs for đ¶ Icela and đ± Ace.