Partnerships Help St. Monica's Extend Its Community Impact

Building Partnerships, Serving Our Community

One of the great joys of ministry at St. Monica's Episcopal Church in Cantonment, Florida, is witnessing how God continues to open doors for us to serve our neighbors. While outreach has long been part of our parish identity, this past year has been marked by the development of new partnerships that are allowing us to expand our impact in ways we could not accomplish alone.

Feeding Children During the Summer

In the summer of 2025, St. Monica's partnered with another local ministry to provide breakfast and lunch for school-aged children in our community. Five days a week throughout the summer, children received nutritious meals and caring support. It was a deeply rewarding ministry that addressed a critical need for families when school was not in session.

This summer, we have taken a different approach in hopes of expanding our reach. Through partnerships with Feeding the Gulf Coast and the Quintette Community Center, we now distribute weekly food boxes containing seven breakfasts and seven lunches for each child. During the first four weeks of the program, we distributed more than 2,800 meals. We are grateful for these partners and for the opportunity to help ensure that children in our community have access to healthy food throughout the summer months.

Community Dinners

For nearly a year, St. Monica's hosted a monthly community dinner at the church. These gatherings began as a partnership with another local ministry and provided an opportunity for fellowship, hospitality, and relationship-building.

As good stewards of our resources and volunteers, we are currently evaluating the effectiveness of this ministry and discerning how it may best serve our community in the future. Sometimes faithful ministry means not only beginning new initiatives but also taking time to assess where God is calling us next.

Caring for Pets and Their Families

One of our most unexpected partnerships began at a community Fall Festival hosted by a local veterinary clinic. During the event, we offered blessings for animals and their owners and met representatives from Green Acres Rescue, a local dog rescue organization.

That conversation led to a remarkable collaboration. Green Acres Rescue organized a community-wide collection of pet food and supplies, and together we hosted a pet food giveaway. The response was overwhelming. We distributed approximately 1,500 pounds of dog food, 500 pounds of cat food, and 500 pounds of kitty litter to families in need.

To learn more about St. Monica's, visit https://st-monicas.org/.

The Rev. Ted Kirchharr, Rector

St. Monica's Episcopal Church

699 S. Hwy 95-A, Cantonment, FL 32533