MISSION: Family Values for Life works with families to help them chart a path out of crisis through spiritual empowerment, mental alertness, physical fitness, and financial stability.
Together we build capacities for families to network and leverage resources within their community. Strong healthy families cultivate secure communities.
Our target population faces multiple challenges and our holistic programming empowers families to meet those challenges by addressing four “pillars” of wellbeing: spiritual/emotional, mental, physical, and financial.
Our PROGRAMS reach more than 5,000 people per year and include crisis assistance, food shelf, skill-building workshops for single parents, grief and trauma support, family coaching and case management, community referrals, after-school family meals and homework help, targeted reading support for elementary students, mentoring, and youth summer camps. Evaluation indicates that ongoing program participants are physically and emotionally healthier, more socially connected, and have increased skills for financial wellbeing.
Current Crisis: As emergency COVID-19-related support ends for families, and inflation rises, families living at the edge of financial solvency are feeling the pinch. For example, families receiving SNAP have been receiving additional per-child monthly benefits during the pandemic. Beginning in early 2023, Minnesota has been phasing these benefits out. The week after this additional benefit ended, our food shelf saw usage increase by 80%. We have continued to see this elevated traffic.
Our Response: Community need for our basic needs program has increased significantly since the program launched during the immediate pandemic aftermath. What began as a monthly food shelf giveaway in 2021 grew to weekly in 2022 and is now available four times per week. We anticipate distributing 134,000 pounds of food from July 2023-June 2024
In addition to offering food, our outreach program also provides crisis cash assistance for families with an immediate and short-term need, such as rental deposits, gas or transportation costs, car insurance and repair needs, child care expense, baby supplies, winter gear, and more.
As we continue to see a rising need in our community it is imperative we come together even the more to support families not just surviving but thriving.
Here are the ways you can participate:
(1) Select the Complimentary Ticket and bring up to 3 Guest
(2) Select Donation Ticket if you would like to start your donation today. Minimum suggested donation of $50.00 which includes breakfast for one person
(3) If you would like to bring a guest AND donate, select the Complimentary ticket (include yourself and your guests) and select DONATE ONLY ticket.
(4) If you are unable to be present for our breakfast and would like to participate select our DONATE ONLY ticket, visit our website ( https://fvflmn.org/donation/ ), or mail a check to Family Values For Life 1280 Arcade St. Saint Paul, MN, 55106.