Continued Care
In 1996, Elsie M. Newkirk established a fund with the Foundation, an enduring expression of her diligent service and generous spirit.
Elsie was a registered nurse and an educator, teaching surgical and obstetrical nursing. She spent almost a decade working as an industrial nurse at Ohio Steel Tube Company, and also served patients at the Shelby Memorial Hospital. Elsie was known for her deep care for others.
Her calling to offer care was not confined to the workplace. Elsie cared faithfully for her brother through the end of his life. She also founded a ministry to support neighbors who were ill and homebound, ensuring they remained connected and supported.
Today, her generosity continues to strengthen ministries of compassion through the Foundation’s Mini-Grant Program. Grants from her fund have supported respite care for individuals living with dementia, weekly community meals that nourish both body and spirit, and the cultivation of a community garden. These tangible expressions of love are in places across our connection, like Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise, Joseph United Methodist Church, and @opretreat (Ocean Park Camp and Retreat Center).
Applications for mini-grants of up to $3,000 opened on March 1. We look forward to hearing about your ministries and celebrating legacies like Elsie’s as they continue to strengthen and inspire our connection for generations to come.