2021 Episcopal Charities Grants

love thy neighbor

20 by Lindsey Nickel

Even in the darkness of the pandemic, churches across the diocese have continued to shine as a beacon of support for dozens of small charities that lift up the communities around them. Over the past 37 years, a small group of volunteers at St. James House of Prayer Episcopal Church have supported generations of children living in their Tampa Heights neighborhood.

It’s a difficult question every struggling parent faces “where do my kids go after school”? For the families in Tampa Heights, their beacon of light is just around the corner.

Cornerstone Kids, Inc. is a comprehensive after-school program for children in the Tampa Heights community organized and managed by St. James House of Prayer. The program began 37 years ago as Cornerstone Club with the intent to provide a safe place for the children in the underserved Tampa Heights community to play and avoid the negative influences in the neighborhood. The club was financially supported by the church and operated three days a week for many years. In October 1998, the program began operating five days a week as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization with the official name of Cornerstone Kids.

“Many of our former students have finished high school and college, and are leading productive lives. Students also return to volunteer with our summer program,” said Executive Director Olatha Leggett. “It is so fulfilling to be able to witness and share our success stories.”

The program serves youth ages 5-11 and operates with a staff of seven and a small pool of volunteers from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Program activities offered during the school year include homework assistance and tutoring, reading and math programs, technology, mentoring, and nutrition. Another significant focus for Cornerstone Kids programing is the social and emotional development for the 30 at-risk children they support.

“I came to the program to ‘give back’ after working in the corporate world for more than 30 years but I've learned so much more from the kids than I could ever give,” shared Leggett. “I have been blessed beyond measure to be an integral part of the Cornerstone Kids organization.”

In the summer, the program offers a curriculum including arts and crafts, Vacation Bible School, field trips, organized indoor and outdoor activities, reading and math programs, and other enrichment activities.

The program is free of charge to the participating families. Funding comes from several sources, including the Episcopal Charities Fund.

“After 37 years of being a nonprofit organization, we remain true to our mission ‘To reach at-risk inner-city children and assist in their educational, spiritual, and emotional development in a safe, secure and nurturing environment.’ Thanks to the Episcopal Charities Fund for helping us to advance our mission in education and nutrition through their annual grant program,” said Leggett.

This year, the Episcopal Charities Fund provided the Cornerstone Kids with a grant to help support its nutrition program, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind. The children receive a hot nutritious meal each day. Filling the hunger gap that exists for the low-income children who attend the program is a core component of the Cornerstone Kids mission. A healthy diet promotes a better quality of life: children who have proper nutrition have been shown to achieve higher grades in school through increased well-being and improved mental clarity.

Meals are prepared on-site at Cornerstone Kids with food items from the Feeding Tampa Bay purchase program. The grant from the diocese will enable Cornerstone Kids to supplement the basic meal program with lessons that encourage healthy eating. Physical activities will also be incorporated, and parents will be given handouts to reinforce good nutrition at home.

Above: photos from the Cornerstone Kids mission at St. James House of Prayer.

Episcopal Charities Recipients:

In 2021, the Diocese of All Saints, Tarpon Springs, Pack A Snack, $2,000 Southwest Florida distributed All Souls, N. Ft. Myers, Wednesday Outreach, $2,686 a round of support through Church of the Ascension, Clearwater, Food Bank Interview Room Improvement, $1,700 the Episcopal Charities Fund Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota, FYI: Foster Youth Initiative, $4,000 totaling $43,186. The grants Holy Innocents', Valrico, TLC - Transforming Lives for Christ, $4,500 were sent out this fall, after St. George, Bradenton, St. George's Food Pantry Assistance, $5,000 an application process, and a recommendation list from the St. James House of Prayer, Tampa, Cornerstone Kids, Inc., $4,000 Council of Deacons. St. John, Pine Island, Beacon Bites Meal Delivery Program, $3,000 St. Margaret of Scotland, Sarasota, Crafters for Hope, $1,500 2021 St. Mark, Marco Island, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, $1,500 St. Mark, Venice, Venice Area Community Dinners, $ 2,500 St. Mary, Bonita Springs, Lending Library and Reading Program Project, $ 1,800 St. Peter, Plant City, Friends in the Park, $1,000 St. Thomas & St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, Benison Farm Hen's and Mangos, $ 3,000 The Cathedral Church of St. Peter, St. Petersburg, Fresh Food Program at Florida Resurrection House, $ 5,000