Dear Friends in Christ,
I am pleased to share that our committee has awarded 18 faith communities with Episcopal Community Ministries (ECM) Grants in the first cycle of 2025.
ECM is a major source of grants for congregational ministries working to join God in the transformation of our communities throughout Southern Ohio, specifically in addressing systemic issues of education, hunger, homelessness, health, and social justice. Our mission is to inspire and support one another in the living out of our Baptismal Covenant through active, generous, and committed congregations and their outward-looking ministries. ECM grants are funded by an annual draw from the Blanchard Memorial Endowment Fund and through donations.
The Spring 2025 grants have been awarded to 18 faith communities for a total of $65,430. Our recipients are:
- Good Shepherd, Athens – Sharing Cabinet & Free Lunch, $2,500
Supplying free food and hygienic products for neighbors and a monthly free lunch.
- Advent, Cincinnati – Free Fridge, $2,500
Supplying free refrigerated food and pantry items for neighbors.
- Advent, Cincinnati – Community Garden, $2,000
Expanding growing space for neighbor-access and produce donations to food access points in Walnut Hills. The garden also hosts special liturgies and meditations for connection between the church and the natural world.
- Our Saviour, Cincinnati – Food Pantry, $5,000
Providing healthy and culturally-appropriate food and hygiene items for neighbors, the majority of whom are immigrants not qualifying for governmental assistance.
- St. John’s, Columbus – Nourishing Earth, Body, and Soul (NEBS), $3,000
A free meal and worship service for homeless and low income neighbors in Franklinton.
- Trinity, Columbus – In the Garden, $8,000
Providing a weekly hot meal with worship and community building with ecumenical partners.
- St. George’s, Dayton – Casseroles of Hope, $1,800
A feeding ministry in partnership with the Casseroles of Hope organization and Family Promise of Warren County.
- St. Patrick’s, Dublin – CATCH – Freedom Ministry, $3,500
Addressing issues of housing, food security, education and life skills, and justice for victims of sex trafficking.
- Trinity, London – Madison Co. Food Pantry, $5,000
Providing free grocery items to neighbors in poverty.
- Epiphany, Nelsonville – Free Community Meal, $4,000
A monthly free meal for the community.
- Epiphany, Nelsonville – Blessing Box, $4,000
Supplying free food and hygienic products for neighbors.
- All Saints, New Albany – Garden for All, $5,000
Expansion of the garden enabling three new pantry partners, increased food distribution with existing partners, and an expansion of their volunteer base.
- All Saints, Pleasant Ridge – Summer Saints 2025, $3,630
A summer program for children in collaboration with neighborhood organizations, providing affordable childcare and Christian formation.
- Trinity, Troy – Medical Fund, $2,500
Financial assistance for those unable to afford medical care or payments.
- St. Mark’s, Upper Arlington – Culture & Artisans Fair, $2,500
An annual program in partnership with CRIS, a local refugee resettlement agency, and the City of Upper Arlington’s Community Relations Committee.
- St. Matthew’s, Westerville – Food Insecurity Ministry, $5,500
Expansion of the food pantry and community garden at Otterbein University, partnership with St. John’s, Columbus on Street Church meals, and the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM) food pantry, financial education, and employment services, as well as establishing a new partnership for a free pantry and storage space with the Westerville Queer Collective.
- St. Edward’s, Whitehall – Ed’s Garden, $5,000
Expanding a community garden for neighborhood participation with life-skills training and with produce donation to the Center of Hope Food Pantry.
ECM Grants are considered and awarded biannually. The second round of grants for 2025 will open July 1 with a deadline of July 31 (a change from what was previously announced). Learn more about ECM, our funding priorities, and our project guidelines on our website.
To contribute to the transformational work of Episcopal Community Ministries, please consider making a donation.
In Christ,
The Rev. Michael Ralph
Chair, Episcopal Community Ministries Grant Committee
Associate Rector, Southeast Ohio Four-Point Collaboration (St. Paul’s, Chillicothe; St. Philip’s, Circleville; St. John’s, Lancaster; St. Paul’s, Logan)
Other members of our committee include:
Lily Balukjian-Thompson – St. John’s, Worthington
Judy Battle – St. Margaret’s, Trotwood
The Rev. Dan Carlson – Church of the Advent, Walnut Hills
Rae Fellows – St. Stephen’s, Columbus
The Rev. Derrick Fetz – Staff Liaison
The Rev. Gene Hallahan – Christ Church, Ironton
Canon Julie Murray – Staff Liaison
Jane Paraskevopoulos – Calvary, Clifton
Andi Wright – Epiphany, Nelsonville
