Free Support and Fun at The Family Partnership’s Resource Fair 

On Saturday, August 17th, Minneapolis families gathered for a day of connection and community at our first-ever Community Resource Fair. Held at TFP’s South Minneapolis location on East Lake Street, this event featured free food, family-friendly activities, giveaways and games—while providing families with an opportunity to explore a wide array of services and resources. 

A Day of Connection and Community 

To host this event, The Family Partnership teamed up with Raise the Barr, a 2Gen nonprofit co-founded by NFL Linebacker Anthony Barr. We developed this resource fair for all community members, with a special focus on families who are facing to healthy food, housing, medical care, and workforce mobility.  

For Ashley Hemnarine, Vice President of Advancement, the Community Resource Fair reflects a core value of The Family Partnership, to “meet people where they’re at.” This value serves our larger commitment to generational healing and wellbeing in Minneapolis.  

“Basic needs are one of the most important aspects we’ve been hearing about from families,” Ashley shared. “In order to move from a survival mindset to a healing mindset, folks need to have their basic needs met.”

At the Community Resource Fair, hundreds of individuals and families accessed a wide array of services and resources from local organizations, including: 

• 4Evr Sale’ing: Clothes 

• A Book of My Own: Children’s Books 

• The Aliveness Project: HIV testing 

• Art of Counseling: Mental health resources 
• Central Minnesota Legal Services: Legal aid

• Emerge Mothers Academy: Resources for single mothers 
• Great MN Schools: Education resources

• Hennepin County: Childhood Immunizations, child and teen checkups, mental health assessment scheduling, safer sex supplies 

• Hired: Career services 

• Minnesota Vikings: Lunch from Vikings Table 

• NAMI : Mental health resources 

• Open Arms: Nutritional resources 

• Our Streets: Games and community resources
•  PFund Foundation: LGBTQ+ scholarships and resources
• Phyllis Wheatley: Education resources
• Sabathani Community Center: Food 

• Think Small: Early childhood resources 
• Transforming Families: Gender identity resources

• Twin Cities Food Justice: Groceries 

• The Upton Program: Tools for parenting and pregnant youth 

Free Food and Family Fun 

Families who attended our Community Resource Fair enjoyed free burgers and hotdogs courtesy of Vikings Table, the Minnesota Vikings’ food truck. Elsewhere in the parking lot, children jumped in a bouncy house and drew colorful chalk art while their parents and caregivers met with staff from The Family Partnership and representatives from partnering organizations. Inside the building, children chose unique designs for face painting by Phyllis Chatham—everything from Princess Elsa to spiders—and picked out books supplied by A Book of My Own. 

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Meanwhile, grownups had the opportunity to browse clothing items from a clothing drive held by the Advancement Team of The Family Partnership and stock up on grocery bags full of fresh produce provided by Twin Cities’ Food Justice. Families also scored some great take-home gear from our partners including water bottles, sunglasses, snacks, and fidget toys. 

Supporting Family Strength Every Day 

If you missed the event, don’t worry! The Family Partnership offers services year-round, as do the organizations that partnered with us for the event. At The Family Partnership, more than 3,500 children and adults engage with our 2gen services to heal and build lasting strength. 

Our core programs areas include: 

• Early Childhood Education and Care 

• Mental Health Therapies 

• Family Home Visiting 

• Anti-Sex Trafficking 

If you have questions about which programs are the best fit for you and your family, feel free to contact us. Our team is available to answer questions and help you find the best support for your family’s unique needs and goals. 

You can also connect with more resources and services at The Family Partnership’s monthly Community Health Fair, hosted at our South Minneapolis location. Upcoming dates are available on our Events Page. Regular services and resources at our monthly Community Health Fair include: 

• COVID-19 vaccines 

• MPox vaccines 

• Hennepin County nurses 

• Rapid HIV testing and safer sex supplies 

• STI and HEP C testing and follow-up care 

• Wound care 

• MNSure health insurance navigation 

• Coordinated entry housing assessments 

• LGBTQIA+ resources 

• Anti-sex trafficking resources 

• Legal resources 

• Information about recovery and Medication Assisted Therapy 

• Naloxone 

• Snacks 

Generational Healing, Step by Step 

Our Community Resource Fair celebrated the healing power of community in south Minneapolis. In this event and our daily work, we are here to help families build a legacy of generational healing and wellbeing. We want to give a shoutout to the amazing volunteers who helped to make our first-ever Community Resource Fair a safe, welcoming, and successful experience for children and families. From set-up and take-down, bouncy-house-supervising to helping visitors navigate the building…we couldn’t have done it without you! 

To learn more about volunteer opportunities that support generational healing in Minneapolis, click here.