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Founding Ministries

Reaching out in love to our local community

Our church is a vibrant community of faith shaped by spirit, warmth, tradition, and a deep respect for diversity and individuality. If you look around the Meetinghouse on a Sunday morning, you’ll find a caring congregation sharing life together—celebrating joys, supporting one another in challenges, and engaging with the needs of our wider community.

Below you’ll find an overview of the primary outreach and caring ministries of First UCC of Milford. These efforts are strengthened through our covenants with the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ, our partnership with the national UCC, and our collaborations throughout the Milford community. Together, these connections allow us to extend God’s love and justice far beyond our walls.

Emma Davis Medical Equipment Ministry

The Emma Davis Medical Equipment Ministry is a long-standing outreach of First UCC Milford that has offered compassionate service for decades. Named for Emma Davis, a church member remembered for her deep care for neighbors in need, the ministry began in 1968 when the Deacons felt called to continue her legacy. Since then, church members have collected, repaired, and distributed used medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches—providing them free of charge across the state. Today, the ministry is overseen by the Board of Christian Outreach and is sustained by more than a dozen dedicated volunteers. In 2018 alone, over 500 pieces of equipment were shared with people in need.

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Milford Food 2 Kids

Milford Food 2 Kids is a ministry of compassion dedicated to ensuring that local children have access to nourishing food when school meals are not available. Every weekend, students who might otherwise face hunger receive bags filled with healthy, kid-friendly food, offering both practical support and the assurance that their community cares for them. Since its beginnings in 2016, the ministry has grown with the help of generous volunteers, community partners, local businesses, and civic organizations. Its mission is simple but vital: to feed children who have little or no food resources during weekends away from school. Its vision is bold: to break the cycle of food insecurity so that every young person can grow, learn, and thrive.

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The White Gift Ministry

The White Gift Ministry is one of First Church’s most cherished holiday traditions. Each year, our congregation comes together to bring joy and relief to children and families in our community who are facing difficult circumstances. What began as a simple effort to share God’s love at Christmastime has grown into a ministry that touches the lives of more than 150 children annually. Last year, your generosity helped us provide gifts and hope to 160 children and their families. This year, we will once again offer each child a $50 gift card to a local store and a $15 grocery card, helping to make the holiday season brighter and a little less stressful.

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Beth-El Center

Beth-El Center is Milford’s primary outreach organization caring for the hungry and homeless, with a vision of creating a community where everyone has a home and all are fed. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Center operates a 34-bed shelter and a food service program, offering both immediate support and long-term pathways to stability. As one of the founding churches and a continuing sponsoring faith community, First UCC of Milford supports Beth-El through financial contributions, special events, and hands-on service such as preparing and serving meals on fifth Saturdays. Beth-El stands as a powerful example of what communities of faith can accomplish together in meeting needs and offering hope.

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Food Pantry

The Food Pantry Ministry at First UCC of Milford provides groceries and household essentials to individuals and families in our community who are experiencing food insecurity. Stocked and sustained through the generosity of church members, local partners, and community donations, the pantry offers not only practical support but also a message of dignity and care. Volunteers help with collecting, organizing, and distributing items, ensuring that neighbors have reliable access to healthy food. This ministry is one of the many ways our congregation seeks to live out God’s love in tangible, life-giving ways.