Spotlight on a Cultivating Community Grant Program: Elmira’s Place

The Synod of South Atlantic, covering presbyteries and Presbyterian congregations in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, makes several grants available to congregations, presbyteries, and networks across the region. Most grants have an October 1 deadline, but planning ahead is encouraged, as some grants require presbytery endorsement.

Review the grant guidelines and apply on the Synod of South Atlantic website: https://www.synodofsouthatlantic.org/grants-applications

We will be spotlighting some of the 2025 grant recipients starting today and in upcoming newsletters.  First up …

The Story of Elmira’s Place

By Kelly McKenzie

Treasurer/Elder of Administration and Finance

First Presbyterian Church of Milton FL

The best way to start a story is from the beginning.

Recently (last summer) the Session of First Presbyterian Church of Milton of Milton, Florida gathered not in their usual meeting room, but at a retreat hosted by Presbytery of Florida at Dogwood Acres outdoor ministry camp. Our purpose was not to plan another calendar year or refine existing programs, but to prayerfully discern a deeper question: What gospel-driven, focused ministry is God calling us into right now?

We began with a shared conviction—that ministry happens where a community’s God-given gifts meet the world’s pain. With that grounding, we asked: What are our gifts?

The answers revealed a rich tapestry—artists and healers, advocates and social workers—each one a reminder that God has already equipped this community for meaningful work.

Then came the harder question: Where is the pain?

The responses were immediate and honest: imperiled migrants, lonely teenagers, isolated older adults, worn-out caregivers, the silently grieving. The list grew until it became clear that the needs were vast and deeply interconnected.

So we asked: How do we choose? How do we respond to so much need?

Out of that discernment, a vision emerged—Elmira’s Place.

Elmira’s Place will be a ministry hub located in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church of Milton, dedicated to bringing Christ’s healing to people, communities, and environments through art, nature, prayer, and support. It is envisioned not as a single program, but as a shared space where workshops, classes, support groups, and community gatherings can take root—offering belonging, healing, and hope.

Yet even more transformative than the space itself was a shift in imagination. Rather than ministry flowing from the top down, the Session felt called to empower the entire congregation. Instead of returning with plans, we returned with a question:“What healing ministries will you be starting from Elmira’s Place?”

The response has been immediate. Ideas began bubbling up—support for veterans, safe gathering spaces for teenagers, care networks for older adults, environmental stewardship, and advocacy for LGBTQ neighbors facing exclusion.

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A Living Expression of the Vision

In the quiet, faithful work of First Presbyterian Church of Milton, a parallel expression of this same Spirit-led vision has already taken root. With the generous support of the Synod of the South Atlantic, Elmira’s Place of Healing, Hope, and Assistance has become not just an idea, but a living ministry.

Elmira’s Place is not simply a building or a program—it is a movement of people meeting others where they are, especially in life’s most difficult moments.

At the heart of this ministry is a vital partnership with Offentsive, an organization working on the front lines of overdose response, human trafficking, and homelessness. Together, they have navigated one of the central challenges of this work: how to meaningfully engage complex, urgent needs with limited resources.

The response has been deeply collaborative. The church has opened its space—offering offices for staff and storage for essential supplies like clothing, food, and hygiene items. But more importantly, members have stepped beyond the building, joining outreach efforts directly in the community. Through shared presence, trust has been built where it is often hardest to establish.

Additional challenges—such as sustaining engagement, meeting growing needs, and creating safe, consistent environments for care—have been met through partnerships and creativity. Events like community rummage sales, winter clothing drives, and gatherings at Camp O have helped mobilize resources while strengthening relationships.

Camp O itself has become a sacred extension of Elmira’s Place—a transitional living community for women recovering from homelessness and trauma. Maintaining a clean, safe, and supportive environment requires ongoing commitment, but through shared effort and community support, it continues to be a place where dignity is restored and hope rekindled.

Collaboration has also expanded in unexpected ways. Through partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA Troop #2013, the church has created space not just for meetings, but for deeper connection. Leadership involvement has strengthened the program, and in turn, families have found their way into the life of the church—bridging another common challenge: how to meaningfully engage younger generations and their communities.

Another key ministry, Food Raising Friends, addresses childhood hunger—particularly when school in not in session. What began as a concern has grown into a joyful congregational effort through the “Noisy Offering,” where children collect spare change to support peers in need. Food drives during critical seasons ensure that care extends beyond Sundays into daily life.

Elmira’s Place has also quietly responded to the needs of immigrant families, offering financial assistance, food, and even support for safe travel in times of crisis. These moments, often unseen, reflect the heart of the ministry—meeting urgent needs with compassion and discretion.

And in response to the pain of exclusion, the church now hosts a monthly chapter of PFLAG, offering a safe, welcoming space for LGBTQ individuals, their families, and allies. These gatherings, grounded in shared meals and honest conversation, have become places of healing and belonging.

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Meeting Challenges Through Community

No ministry like this unfolds without obstacles. Elmira’s Place has faced questions of capacity, sustainability, and scope. The needs are great, and at times overwhelming. But rather than retreat, the community has leaned into partnership, shared leadership, and trust in the Spirit’s guidance.

Support from the Synod, collaboration with organizations like Offentsive, PFLAG, Girl Scouts, Food Raising Friends and immigrant support and the active participation of congregation members have all been essential in addressing these challenges. What might have been limitations have instead become opportunities for deeper connection and broader impact.

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A Story Still Being Written

Through all of this, one truth has become clear: this is what it looks like to be the body of Christ.

Elmira’s Place is showing that the church is not just somewhere you go—it is something you live. It is present in streets and shelters, in camps and fellowship halls, in spaces filled with both laughter and tears.

And people are noticing.

Stories of compassion and transformation are spreading. New faces are appearing. Families are reconnecting with faith. The church is growing—not only in number, but in purpose, in love, and in impact.

Elmira’s Place is still unfolding. But its beginning—rooted in listening, courage, and community—offers a powerful witness to the wider church.

When we start at the beginning—naming our gifts, facing the pain, and trusting God with the outcome—something extraordinary has taken root.

We are deeply grateful for the support of the Synod of the South Atlantic, whose grant has been instrumental in bringing this new missional vision to life. Through their generosity, First Presbyterian Church of Milton has been able to more fully serve our community and walk alongside those who are often marginalized. We give thanks for the Synod’s partnership, encouragement, and commitment to shared ministry.