Economic Opportunity Program

As a supporter of the Economic Opportunity Program, Inc., your investment is honored and appreciated more than you know!  In giving your time and resources, you have empowered us to underwrite programs and services that have impacted more than 5,000 lives each year for over 60 years!  

Since 2020, our Curbside Feeding program has been providing free meals twice daily in order to help fill the nutritional gap that so many of our community members have been facing. With barriers to adequate nutrition on the rise, including increasing grocery costs and the uncertainty of SNAP benefits, we need your help now more than ever to continue this service.

Our programs:

Emerging Care Food Program provides nutrition education and food support through the Snack Pack program for toddlers and preschoolers; daily nutritious snacks for PreK through age 12; daily dinners and a snack for ages 13 through high school; and daily curbside feeding (breakfast and dinner).  Additionally, EOP runs a Summer Feeding Program - free meals twice daily for youth and their families, and fresh produce from the Victory Community Garden. 

Libertad-Elmira Veteran and Family Program provides permanent supportive housing to eligible homeless Veterans and their families in the Libertad-Elmira housing community. A Therapeutic Life Coach provides intensive case management and essential supports (from life skills to medical care) in a practical and relevant manner.

Family Support Services - advocacy and support services for individuals 21 and under with disabilities, including: the Parent Run Autism Playgroups (quality choice-based community activities for the child with ASD and the parent) and funding for choice-based activities (swimming, gym play, bowling, train rides, trips to museums, etc.). The program also has a Sensory Room, which is open to the public.

Anti-Displacement Program - Case management services to prevent displacement for homeless and/or displaced families due to code violations, uninhabitable housing, or being in arrears. Connects with financial counseling services and limited assistance.

Birth to Five School Readiness Program (Early Head Start and Head Start) - a center-based social, physical, cognitive, and language development program for birth to five-year-olds, including medical, dental, and mental health services, nutritious snacks, and meals.

Ernie Davis Community Center serves youth ages 13-18 with an afterschool program that allows them to engage in culturally enriching and physical/social/educational experiential learning activities.

Center Of Excellence is a licensed School-Aged Child Care program where children ages 5-12 receive homework assistance, academic enhancement opportunities, prevention education, and cultural enrichment, plus recreation and a snack. COE also provides a summer program for ages 4-12.

Community Food for Jobs Program offers a 10-week culinary arts training program to facilitate the creation of additional employment opportunities in our community by providing job training, education, and placement. On-the-job training is gained through the CFJP Bistro, which is open to the public and caters on-site and off-site events.

Literacy Volunteers of Chemung & Schuyler Counties is a volunteer based program, serving the adult population struggling with basic literacy skills and English as a Second Language.

Energy Services Bureau weatherizes income-eligible homes (insulation, air sealing and draft reduction measures) and provides heating system efficiency service and replacement, including carbon monoxide testing and gas leak detection.

Who We Are

EOP was established in 1965 as the legislatively designated Community Action Agency to define and design programs that best meet the needs of low-income people in Chemung and Schuyler counties in the Southern Tier of New York State.  Annually, more than 5,000 children, youth, and families benefit in some way from the agency’s services.  We are located at 650 Baldwin St. in Elmira NY and have been helping people for over 60 years.

We envision a future where all people of our community live with dignity and have the opportunity and ability to live economically productive and satisfying lives.  To achieve this vision, EOP provides services that create positive change in individuals, families and our community; and encourages and facilitates participation by all people who can help make our vision a reality.  

WE VALUE people; families and communities; diversity and the unique contributions of individuals; active community participation; a living wage for all individuals and families; excellence in services that create positive change; effective and efficient use of all resources; integrity in allocating our resources and providing services; collaborative partnerships in the community; competent, caring staff to deliver quality services; recognition of staff and volunteers as our most valuable resource; and human resource development/support.