Cornerstone Family Ministries Inc

THE MISSION OF CORNERSTONE FAMILY MINISTRIES IS TO MAKE A LASTING AND POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY BY NOURISHING YOUNG BODIES, DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS, AND FOSTERING HOPE THROUGH CHRISTONE CHILD AT A TIME.

CHILDREN'S NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM - OUR CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM RECRUITED, MONITORED, AND/OR TRAINED 159 CHILD CARE CENTERS IN HILLSBOROUGH, PINELLAS, PASCO, POLK, AND MANATEE COUNTIES SERVING 17,098 CHILDREN AND 4,040,487 MEALS THIS YEAR ALONE. THE PROGRAM TARGETS CENTERS SERVING LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND IS PART OF A STATE-WIDE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ARE EATING NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO HELP THEM GROW IN MIND AND BODY. THE PROGRAM FACILITATES ACCESS FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 12 YEARS OLD TO EAT A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST, A HOT LUNCH, AND SNACKS.

CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING CENTER & LAB SCHOOL (THE ROSA VALDEZ EARLY LEARNING CENTER & LAB SCHOOL) - MAJORITY OF THE CHILDREN AT THE CENTER LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. THE CENTER HAS A STANDARD FOR HIGH QUALITY CARE, LOW TEACHER-TO-CHILD RATIOS, CERTIFIED STAFF, AND AN ENRICHED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION TO A LITERACY BASED CHRISTIAN CURRICULUM, THE CENTER PROVIDES DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENTS, THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING, FAMILY SUPPORT, AND LOTS OF LOVE AND CARE FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO ARE PART OF THE ROSA FAMILY. ALTHOUGH THE CENTER'S GOAL IS TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR FUTURE ACADEMIC SUCCESS, IT ALSO STRIVES TO PROVIDE SAFE CHILDCARE SO THAT PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN WORK OR GO TO SCHOOL TO MOVE THEIR FAMILY OUT OF POVERTY. THERE ARE THREE LOCATIONS: ONE IS LOCATED WITHIN A VPK ONLY CLASSROOM AT MORGAN WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (CLOSED IN JUNE '23), THE SECOND IS LOCATED AT OAK GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND THE OTHER IS OUR ORIGINAL LOCATED IN OLD WEST TAMPA.

THE CORNERSTONE CHILDREN'S NUTRITION EDUCATION - THE CORNERSTONE CHILDREN'S NUTRITION CONNECTION PROVIDES NUTRITION, EDUCATION, AND OBESITY PREVENTION AWARENESS TO LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AROUND NUTRITION EDUCATION AND NUTRITIOUS MENU PLANNING FOR THE STAFF OF THE 150+ CENTERS SPONSORED BY CORNERSTONE THROUGH ITS SPONSORSHIP OF THE CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM WHERE THESE CHILDREN ATTEND FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMMING. OUR NUTRITIONIST AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COACHING STAFF PROVIDE COACHING AND TRAINING SESSIONS TO CENTERS TO HELP THEM IMPROVE QUALITY AND TO ENSURE THAT NUTRITIOUS FOOD WAS SERVED TO CHILDREN WHO REALLY NEED IT IN ADDITION, CORNERSTONE LAUNCHED IN 2018 A COMMUNITY GARDEN TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN ONE OF TAMPA'S KNOWN FOOD DESERT AREAS KNOWN AS YBOR CITY. THE GARDEN IS A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN AND THEIR EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES CAN LEARN ABOUT WHERE FOOD COMES FROM, HOW IT GROWS, HOW TO TAKE IT HOME AND PREPARE IT, AND HOW IT FUELS OUR BODIES (THE GARDEN MOVEMENT). THIS YEAR, WE HAD 8 CENTERS SERVING AN AVERAGE OF 1,257 CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.