MHEDS - Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System, Inc.

02/02/2026

Oral health matters at every stage of life — from a child’s first tooth to caring for your smile as an adult. This month, MHEDS is focusing on oral health for all ages and how daily habits like brushing, flossing, and healthy food choices support both your smile and your overall health.
Read our latest blog to learn why oral health is more important than you may think and how small steps can make a big difference. https://bit.ly/45Nk5S2

February – Oral Health for All Ages February 1, 2026 Why Your Smile Matters More Than You Think When we think about our health, we often focus on our heart, weight, or blood pressure. But oral health, how we care for our teeth and gums, is just as important. A healthy mouth helps us eat comfortabl...

01/27/2026

Thank you, Jefferson Educational Society, for creating a successful Civic Leadership Program that leaders can be part of, and thank you for highlighting JCLA Alumni selected by the Mercy Center for Women as this year's Women Making History honorees!

We are proud to join the Mercy Center for Women in celebrating this year’s Women Making History honorees - leaders whose courage, compassion, and commitment are shaping Erie County’s future and opening doors for generations to come. 💫

We’re especially excited for four of our JES Civic Leadership Academy alumni who are being recognized and celebrated this year:

⭐ Tiffany Lavette (JCLA 2016)
⭐ Melinda Hall (JCLA 2021)
⭐ Alivia Haibach (JCLA & Raimy Fellow 2024)
⭐ Kathryn DiVittorio (JCLA & Raimy Fellow 2024)

Your impact reaches far beyond individual achievements; it strengthens our community, inspires civic engagement, and reminds us what thoughtful, principled leadership looks like in action.

Congratulations to each of you on this well-deserved recognition. We are honored to celebrate your stories and grateful for the difference you each continue to make.

01/27/2026

We are so happy and excited that the Mercy Center for Women has selected our CEO, Alivia Haibach, as a 2026 Women Making History honoree! Congratulations, Alivia, and all of this year's honorees!

We are honored to announce the outstanding women selected as honorees for the 33rd annual Women Making History event by the Mercy Center for Women. Join us in celebrating these 18 individuals who have shown unwavering dedication to the Erie community. Let's honor and appreciate their incredible contributions!

Andrea Amicangelo
Elana Como
Linda Corso
Kathryn DiVittorio
Sr. Claudia Dombrowski
Donna Douglass
Cassie Dundon
Melanie Ford
Karen Haas
Alivia Haibach
Melinda Hall
Carol Holmgren
Lana Kunik
Kyrie Laubenthal
Tiffany Lavette
Tica Nickson
Sarah Prylinski
Jamie Snider

The Women Making History 2026 event will take place on Monday, March 30, at 7 p.m., at the Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University. Admission is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

For more information about the event, the mission of the Mercy Center for Women, and how to get involved, please visit www.mcwerie.org or contact us at (814) 455-4577. Stay tuned for additional details as the date approaches.

01/26/2026

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼 𝗜𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲. Accountability matters. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or your care team at MHEDS, support can make new habits easier to maintain. Our latest blog shares tips for building a support system that works for you. https://bit.ly/3YZ9tve

01/05/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴! We’re kicking off this month with a powerful new post from 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗟. 𝗠𝗰𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘆, Doctor of Behavioral Health and Licensed Professional Counselor at MHEDS. She’s sharing practical, realistic ways to rebuild healthy habits using 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 and 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. If you’re ready to make small, sustainable changes that support your long‑term wellness, this month’s blog is for you. Start your journey with us today! https://bit.ly/3YZ9tve

12/29/2025

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗮𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿. Use sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water aren’t available but prioritize handwashing to remove certain types of germs effectively. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲! https://bit.ly/4nT6Upp

12/25/2025

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.
We are encouraged by continued progress toward a new Parade Street community healthcare facility, an important step in addressing long-standing health disparities on Erie’s east side.

MHEDS serves communities where life expectancy can be much shorter simply because of ZIP code. Expanding services into areas of highest need helps close that gap, but it requires sustained commitment from partners and the broader community.

This moment reflects progress, ensuring long-term access to care for underserved families remains a shared responsibility. Learn more about how we are ensuring that all Erie County residents have access to healthcare: https://mheds.org/donate/

The project is part of the East Side Renaissance initiative, which aims to revitalize a portion of the city's east side. See link below ⬇️ bit.ly/4939V0e

12/24/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹.

In rural areas across Erie County, many residents face geographic isolation that makes even basic healthcare hard to reach. For them, the nearest doctor might be 30 miles away. In some cases, 1 in 7 adults still lacks a personal healthcare provider. If you can’t drive, can’t take time off work, or can’t afford gas, you go without. These barriers can be deadly.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁. 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗨𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻.

Because some families can’t access the care they need, 𝗠𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗦 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 $𝟯𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝘅-𝗱𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 — a way to bring life-saving healthcare to real people in communities that have been left behind and might otherwise go without. 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! https://mheds.org/donate/

12/23/2025

We just want to take a moment of your time to let you know about our 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 over Christmas and the New Year!❄️ At all of our locations, we will be 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟰-𝟮𝟲. On New Year's Eve, we will be open with normal hours, but 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿'𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆.

Stay warm and enjoy time with your families!❤️

12/22/2025

𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀. Washing your hands after touching shared surfaces or being in public places is essential to stop germs in their tracks. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀! https://bit.ly/4nT6Upp

12/15/2025

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝟮𝟬 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀? Scrubbing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—don’t forget between your fingers and under your nails—removes harmful germs that cause colds, flu, and more. 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿! https://bit.ly/4nT6Upp

12/05/2025

For over 50 years, MHEDS has cared for Erie’s multicultural community, yet many still face barriers to essential healthcare. Some families can’t get to the care they need.

With your help, MHEDS will raise $350,000 to launch a mobile medical unit—bringing primary care and screenings to communities across Erie County - directly to the neighborhoods that need it most.

When we meet people where they are, we are sending a message: You matter. Donate Today at MHEDS.org.