Serving With Heart: Maleno Gives Back at the Erie City Mission

Thanksgiving is a season that naturally draws us toward gratitude, reflection, and community. And yesterday morning, our Maleno Property Management team embraced that spirit by heading to the Erie City Mission bright and early to help support their annual Thanksgiving outreach.

From 6 AM to 11 AM, our team members bundled up, rolled up their sleeves, and jumped into whatever jobs were needed. Some packed boxes filled with Thanksgiving meals. Others helped distribute those boxes to families in line. A few team members worked the kitchen area, pouring hot coffee and cocoa to keep the crowd warm. And several kept the line moving smoothly while offering encouragement, smiles, and even some entertainment to make the cold wait a little brighter.

The Erie City Mission’s Thanksgiving program is a powerful reminder of what makes our community so special. Hundreds of families receive full Thanksgiving dinners — complete with a turkey and all the trimmings. Even more importantly, they receive hope, dignity, and the reassurance that Erie is a place where neighbors look out for each other.

Natalie Washburn, our Broker/Owner and Property Manager, shared why volunteering matters so deeply to our team:

“We are extremely grateful for the chance to serve alongside the Erie City Mission. At Maleno, giving back isn’t a checkbox or a once-a-year event. It’s part of who we are. When we help our neighbors, we’re strengthening the community we all share.”

She went on to say,

“What touched me most was seeing how much kindness can fit into a simple moment — handing someone a warm drink, helping carry a box, or offering a friendly greeting. These little gestures truly matter, especially this time of year.”

For all of us at Maleno, the morning was both humbling and uplifting. It reminded us that community isn’t just built through housing; it’s built through compassion, generosity, and showing up.

We’re honored to support organizations like the Erie City Mission, whose work makes a tremendous difference in the lives of people right here in our city.

And to the volunteers, staff, and everyone involved in yesterday’s effort — thank you. It was a privilege to stand beside you.