Lily’s Place asks board to consider repurposing old Highlawn Elementary for community resource center

Representatives from Lily’s Place described existing programs and a funded renovation plan for a community resource center and asked the board to consider repurposing the old Highlawn Elementary building to host the project.

Rhonda Edmonds, administrative director at Lily’s Place, summarized the nonprofit’s operations: a neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) facility started in 2014, a family center opened in 2020 offering counseling and peer support, a children’s center opened in 2023 with counseling and mentorship, and a residential treatment program that allows pregnant and parenting women to live with their children. Edmonds said Lily’s Place seeks to expand prevention and family‑centered services beyond emergency responses to the opioid epidemic.

Jody Mayolo, who spoke about facility plans, said Lily’s Place has identified a property and had encountered delays due to vandalism; the organization is now asking the board to consider allowing its renovation funds and services to be used at the former Highlawn Elementary to better serve the neighborhood. Olivia Mead, Lily’s Place finance director, told the board the organization has secured a federal appropriation of roughly $1 million for property renovations and stressed the funding is for renovation (not program service delivery). Mead described the nonprofit’s multiple revenue streams — grants, billable services, community and church support — and said programmatic partners and fee‑for‑service models would support sustainability.

The board heard the presentation and Lily’s Place said it would forward contact information and additional materials for board members to review. Board members expressed appreciation for Lily’s Place’s services but did not take formal action during the meeting.