Family Resource Center latest facility expansion

By Robert Williams

Editor

During Wednesday’s Frazee City Council meeting, CornerStone Executive Director Mackenzie Hamm gave an emotional review of CornerStone’s annual report concentrating on the latest change to the facility—becoming a Family Resource Center (FRC) in December of 2024. 

A Family Resource Center is a community or school-based welcoming hub of support, services, and opportunities for families that:

• Utilizes an approach that is multi-generational, strengths-based, and family-centered

• Reflects and is responsive to community needs and interests

• Provides support at no or low cost for participants

• Builds communities of peer support for families to develop social connections that reduce isolation and stress

CornerStone received a grant from The Sawyer Foundation to aid in the transition. The State of Minnesota is pushing FRCs into each county, according to Hamm.

“We’re a little unique—we’re a non-profit,” Hamm said.

CornerStone’s situation is unique, but preferred by the state government which would prefer FRCs not be in government buildings, Hamm said.

“People are more comfortable going into a space like that and we were already operating like a Family Resource Center so it was easy…” said Hamm.

It was also an easy transition for Hamm herself, who did similar work in Detroit Lakes prior to taking over at CornerStone in early 2023.

Hamm expressed herself with control, but near tears when discussing the positive effects of people utilizing CornerStone as a FRC.

“It’s emotional for me because unless you’re in that work you don’t see it and the amount of people that are in our community that are living in their cars, are young parents, are people that are struggling with hey, I had a CPS (Child Protective Service) report called on me,” Hamm said. “Stress puts a lot of things on families. Just to be able to sit down with a lot of these people and have a meal with them. Give them some clothes, let them wash their clothes. I love that and as a city I hope that you really see the impact of it. The amount of counties that are coming to CornerStone to say, ‘Kenzie, can we see your facility? Look at what your town is doing and impacting.’”

Last year was a big year for CornerStone with the bistro opening in July and the Family Resource Center in 2024.

Hamm closed by thanking the council and the community for their support of CornerStone.

Building a stronger future for Our Youth and Families CornerStone Community, Youth & Family Resource Center is a safe, free, and welcoming space for over 300 youth each year. Here, youth find meals, mentorship, activities, skill-building opportunities, workforce skills development, and a community that believes in them.

CorerStone relies on generous donors to keep doors open and programs thriving.

Every dollar helps:

• Fund life-changing programs for youth & families

• Cover essential operating costs like insurance, utilities, and supplies

• Maintain a safe, engaging space for our youth

• Reduce our remaining $108,000 mortgage so we can put more resources into programs

Annual Budget – $316,000

• Programming & Operations – $234,500 (Staff salaries, program delivery, center operations)

• Essential Bills – $51,500 (Mortgage, Insurance, utilities, garbage, professional services)

• Other Expenses – $30,000 (Youth supplies, food, events, advertising, licenses, training, maintenance)

Your Gift in Action

• $50 provides healthy snacks for youth for one month

• $100 provides heat for our youth center

• $250 helps fund transportation for off site youth activities

• $500 supports an entire month of youth programming supplies & operations

• $1,000 helps pay down our mortgage, freeing funds for direct services

Ways to Give

Online: https://www.cornerstonefrazee.org/give

By Mail: PO Box 113, Frazee, MN 56544

In Person: Stop by the Center

Volunteer

Have a heart for the youth, families and community?

So many ways to leave an impact. Stop in to see volunteers at the CornerStone.

Together, volunteers can ensure our youth have a safe place to grow, now and for generations to come. learn, and thrive

For a more detailed budget report, please reach out to the Hamm.