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Your Cornerstone Connection: Fall Updates for Families

Posted Date: 09/29/26 (04:30 PM)
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Partnership Spotlight

Lewis County Footsteps of Hope: Walking Alongside Cornerstone Families

Four people in matching black t-shirts pose together inside a large warehouse store stocked with shelves of goods.
Meeting the needs of students often takes more than what happens inside a classroom. For families facing food insecurity or other challenges, having access to basic necessities can make a meaningful difference—and that’s where partnerships like the one between Lewis County Footsteps of Hope and Cornerstone make an impact.

Lewis County Footsteps of Hope works closely with Cornerstone team members DeeDee Judd, Cecilia Jimenez and Jacey Hinkle to help ensure Chehalis students and their families have access to essential resources.

Cornerstone's Cecilia Jiminez (left) and Lewis County Footsteps for Hope's Paula Burrows stand proudly outside a store, posing between two shopping carts overflowing with boxes of white rice and other supplies.
Cornerstone's Cecilia Jiminez pulls a utility wagon piled high with boxes into the Cornerstone office.
“We are providing essential food to Cornerstone to make sure Chehalis students facing food insecurities are having their basic needs met,” said Paula Burrows of Lewis County Footsteps of Hope.
Several times each month, Footsteps of Hope delivers food to the Cornerstone food pantry, helping keep its shelves stocked and ready to meet the needs of local families. But their support extends well beyond food. The organization also provides new shoes, clothing and hygiene items when those needs arise.

The partnership is built around a simple idea: when a need is identified, the community works together to meet it.

“One text or phone call and we are scheduling a delivery,” Burrows said.

That responsiveness allows Cornerstone to connect families with resources when they need them most. Rather than facing challenges alone, students and families have a network of people and organizations willing to step in and help.
Through their ongoing partnership, Lewis County Footsteps of Hope and Cornerstone are working together to remove barriers, meet basic needs and create greater opportunities for Chehalis students and their families.

“Lewis County Footsteps of Hope and Cornerstone are working together to bring a brighter future to Chehalis students and their families.”
Lewis County Footsteps of Hope
 

3 years of Cornerstone

Building foundations. Growing opportunities. Creating brighter futures.

Three years ago, Cornerstone began with a simple but important idea: when students and families have the support they need outside the classroom, they are better positioned to succeed inside it.

Since then, Cornerstone has continued to grow—not only in the number of families it serves, but in the relationships, resources and opportunities it provides to Chehalis students and their families.

Over the past three years, Cornerstone has become a place where families can turn when they need a little extra support. From food and clothing to school supplies, preschool scholarships and opportunities for parents to pursue their own education and career goals, the program has expanded to address the many different needs that can affect a student's ability to thrive.

Meeting Basic Needs

One of Cornerstone's most significant areas of growth has been basic-needs support. What began as assistance for hundreds of students and families has continued to expand each year. In 2023–24, Cornerstone provided basic-needs support to 355 individuals. That number grew to 449 the following year and reached 500 in 2025–26.

Behind every number is a student or family who received something they needed—whether it was clothing, school supplies, hygiene products or another resource that helped remove a barrier.

Putting Food on the Table

Food insecurity can create challenges that extend far beyond hunger. Cornerstone has continued to build partnerships and resources to help families put food on the table.

Food-box distribution grew dramatically over the past three years, increasing from 60 food boxes in 2023–24 to 250 in 2024–25 and 300 in 2025–26.

These efforts have been strengthened by community partnerships, including organizations and businesses that continue to step forward to support Cornerstone families.

Preparing Children for Kindergarten

Cornerstone's work also begins before students ever walk through the doors of an elementary school.

Through kindergarten-readiness activities and family events, Cornerstone has worked to help young children and their families feel prepared for the transition into school. Participation has grown from 274 attendees in 2023–24 to 301 in 2024–25 and 325 in 2025–26.

These opportunities give children a chance to learn, explore and become familiar with the school environment while giving families resources and connections that can help them navigate the transition into kindergarten.
A large group of children, teenagers, and adults pose together on outdoor steps in front of a dark chalkboard wall.

Supporting the Whole Family

One of the most important aspects of Cornerstone is its focus on the entire family. Through its dual-generation work, parents are given opportunities to pursue education, explore careers and build skills that can benefit both themselves and their children.

Participation in these efforts has grown from 6 individuals in 2023–24 to 10 in 2024–25 and 15 in 2025–26.

The idea is simple: when parents have opportunities to grow, their children can benefit too.

Looking Ahead

The numbers tell an important story, but they don't tell the whole story.

The real measure of Cornerstone's growth can be found in the families who have walked through its doors, the students who received something they needed, the parents who took a step toward college or a career, and the community partners who continue to say, "How can we help?"

Three years in, Cornerstone has grown from an idea into a growing network of support for Chehalis families.

And the work continues.

With strong community partnerships, dedicated staff and a commitment to meeting families where they are, Cornerstone is continuing to build foundations for success—one student, one family and one step at a time.
 
Children play a ring toss game on an outdoor paved playground on a sunny day.

A Summer of Fun, Learning and Connection

Cornerstone kept families connected and learning throughout the summer with two special events designed to help young students prepare for kindergarten: Kinder Motor Camp and Kindercarnival.

In June, incoming kindergarteners took part in Kinder Motor Camp at Lintott Elementary. Through fun, hands-on activities, students practiced important fine and gross motor skills while getting comfortable in a school setting. The camp provided a fun way for children to learn, play and begin building confidence for their first year of school.

The summer wrapped up with Kindercarnival in August, bringing incoming and outgoing kindergarteners and their families together for an afternoon of games, prizes, lunch and community resources. The event gave families an opportunity to connect with one another, meet Cornerstone staff and learn about resources available to them.

Together, these events reflect Cornerstone’s commitment to supporting families beyond the classroom. By creating opportunities to learn, connect and build relationships, Cornerstone is helping students take their next steps toward a successful school experience.

Our Kindercarnival was a wonderful day of fun, connection, and celebration for incoming and outgoing kindergarteners and their families. We’d like to extend a special thank-you to the generous local businesses and organizations who donated prizes for our raffle: Shankz 3D Black Light Mini Golf & Pizza, Midway Cinema, McMenamins Olympic Club, Fairway Lanes, Bowling, La Quinta by Wyndham, Mint City Coffee, Insert Coin, and Dairy Dan. Your generosity helped make the event extra special for our families, and we are grateful for your support of Cornerstone and our students!
A colorful flyer with a circus tent border that says 'Thank You to Our Raffle Sponsors!' and displays various local business logos.
 
A promotional graphic for a 'Love & Logic' event presented by Cornerstone on October 22nd from 5:00-7:30 pm at 2057 SW Salsbury Ave.

❤️ Love & Logic: Leading with Heart, Guiding with Purpose

Join us for an upcoming Love & Logic event designed to give parents, caregivers, and families practical tools for navigating the everyday challenges of raising and supporting children.

📅 October 22
⏰ 5:00–7:30 p.m.
📍 Cornerstone
🍽️ Dinner will be provided!

We’re excited to welcome Alice Trevino and Sucrea Hutchison as our presenters for the evening. They’ll share practical strategies and ideas designed to help families build stronger relationships while encouraging responsibility, confidence, and positive decision-making.

Come learn, connect, enjoy dinner, and take away tools you can put into practice at home.

Mark your calendar and join us October 22! ❤️