Ed's Legacy: A Hand Up Erie's Impact

I support A Hand Up Erie because of Ed Miseta.

In the picture above, Ed is the tall, smiling guy in the back row with a beer in his hand. He's smiling because he thinks he's the only one holding a beer. Ed's "don't tell me what to do" personality was captured perfectly in that picture - because they had been asked not to have a drink in hand for the photo. Classic Ed.

Sadly, this photo also captures Ed's last time participating in a fundraiser for A Hand Up Erie. Just a few months later, the blood cancer we thought he had beaten for good decided to return with a vengeance and ultimately take his life on July 3, 2023.

But this isn't a eulogy. This is my story - as Ed's wife of nearly 25 years - of why I'm asking you to support AHUE on Erie Gives Day on August 11th. 

When Ed started volunteering with A Hand Up Erie, he would often come home with stories about the people he volunteered with. But he was even more impacted by his encounters with the people in the community that AHUE endeavors to help. Ed would be the first to tell you that many of these experiences transformed some of his long-held beliefs. He met people in need of basic household items many of us take for granted: solid beds with clean, comfortable mattresses; a sturdy kitchen table for family meals and homework help; and pots and utensils to cook and serve those meals. He often told people the story of seeing the absolute glee on children's faces when they realized they were going to sleep in a real bed that night.

Within the organization, Ed met volunteers who wanted to enhance people's lives and who freely gave their time and talents to support and uplift the community around them. But we could not have known how those people would step in and support us when Ed went through his cancer battles, both times. From maintaining our lawn to running errands, cooking meals, rearranging furniture to ensure Ed's safety, installing a handrail on our stairwell (I remember, Chuck, and I always will), and just good old moral support, we both experienced the benefits of friends who consider you members of their family. Not one of them expected anything from us in return, but they absolutely have our eternal gratitude.

After Ed died, as the haze of grief began to clear, I knew I wanted to support AHUE in any way I could. I started by maintaining the organization's website and helping with furniture deliveries. In 2024, I was volunteering at their annual golf fundraiser; I didn't know until that day that they had renamed it the "Ed Miseta A Hand Up Erie Golf Outing." It touches the deepest corners of your heart when people memorialize a loved one in such a way. 

Ed made so many friends through AHUE, and I'm grateful to say I have done the same. I'm proud to be a part of this incredible group of volunteers, which includes my brother Joe. (Maybe he'll share his story on his own fundraising page!)

I've set a fundraising goal of $1000 this year so we can continue our mission to uplift and help members of the Erie community.

Nobody associated with A Hand Up Erie - neither board members nor volunteers - receives a paycheck or a stipend. Every penny we receive, every donation that comes in, goes back into the community either directly or to help cover our own costs. Even with cautious budgeting and frugal spending, there will always be costs associated with running an organization of this nature. Rent and utilities for the large warehouse where we store donated items until delivery. The ongoing need to purchase new beds, mattresses, and pillows - we get requests for about 25 beds every week. The cost of fueling and maintaining the trailers and trucks we use to pick up and deliver furniture and household goods. 

In this context, my $1000 goal is a modest one, but the chart shows you how that amount could support the next person or family who reaches out to us for help. 

All of Erie's nonprofits deserve support on Erie Gives Day. I'm asking you to consider helping A Hand Up Erie because, frankly, Ed Miseta was a tough guy to impress. The impact AHUE's mission and its people had on him is something I can never underestimate and will always appreciate. 

Please join me (I'll make the first donation!) in supporting AHUE in memory of a stoic and stubborn, but kind-hearted and compassionate, guy who should still be here.

- Cathy Miseta