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A formal agreement has been signed between First Presbyterian Church of Elgin and Bastrop County for grant funding to build a new building on the Church’s property located near the Elgin Public Library, adjacent to the Church’s historic sanctuary.
This grant is part of the federal funds received by Bastrop County as part of the American Recovery Plan Act, specifically for use in support of non-profit organizations negatively impacted by the Covid pandemic.
“First Presbyterian Church of Elgin is one of seven Bastrop County organizations to receive funds through this unique funding source,” said First Presbyterian Church (FPC) in a press release. “These funds are to be used exclusively by the congregation for the construction of a new building on church property which will house Elgin’s Community Cupboard, Elgin’s largest and oldest food source for our food-insecure neighbors, and emergency housing for the use by Advocacy Outreach of Elgin, our community’s most active organization currently serving people experiencing homelessness.”
The project, which will include outdoor spaces that will be used by those receiving the building’s services as well as members of the greater Elgin community, will be named The Neighborhood Gathering Place. It is the church’s plan to also build an all-ability playground and pickleball courts on the property with funds that have not yet been secured.
“Service to our neighbors is a biblical command that makes the use of our church property for this special purpose a natural response of this congregation,” said Pastor Amy Meyer, 12-year pastor at First Presbyterian. “Our membership has long been involved in serving our neighbors as a response of gratitude for the grace that we ourselves have been extended. This funding is making it possible for partnerships with area non-profit organizations to care for our neighbors, gathering people in a new and powerful way.”
The heart of The Neighborhood Gathering Place will be a 6,000 square foot, two-story structure that will house the Community Cupboard on the ground floor and have four emergency housing areas upstairs above the Cupboard.
The project is the result of an extensive study done by the congregation about the needs of the citizens of Elgin and families who struggle to secure housing and nutrition. During that study process, the concept of The Neighborhood Gathering Place was born.
“FPC Elgin is entering into formal agreements with the Community Cupboard and Advocacy Outreach of Elgin, who will manage all of the services provided to community members in the new space,” said FPC staff. “The space will facilitate collaboration on behalf of the citizens of Elgin. First Presbyterian Church of Elgin wishes to thank County Commissioner Donna Snowden for her support of this project and the entire Bastrop County Commissioners’ Court for their support of such visionary uses of these federal funds. While Covid did many terrible things to our society, through these funds, many lasting benefits for Bastrop County’s citizens are coming to fruition.”
The church will be calling for bids for the construction project soon and hope to break ground in the next few months.
