Join us in our mission and vision:
Hastings Family Service engages community to provide help and hope for neighbors. We envision a caring and connected community where all neighbors can thrive.
These values guide our decisions and actions:
-
People come first.
We respect the dignity of each person, and listen without judgement as we strive to provide help and hope.
-
Inclusion matters.
We value diverse perspectives and the unique contribution each person makes. We strive to create a welcoming and safe environment for all.
-
Connections fuel impact.
We thrive through relationships built on equality, trust, and accountability. We show up, working hard and with heart.
-
Community drives purpose.
We believe listening and working together makes all healthier and stronger. Together, we are better.
-
Gratitude guides us.
We value the time, talent, and trust of our community members. We are good stewards of resources shared with HFS.
Our History:
Hastings Family Service got its start in the late 1960s when the local schools contacted a community member, Dawn Sheridan, to see if she could provide assistance for children who were coming to school without appropriate clothing and coats. Dawn enlisted the help of her friend Mary Jean Engstrom and began gathering and distributing clothing from her basement. They began discussing the broader need in the community with Virginia McHale, Chamber Director, and Lew Linde, a local attorney. Hastings Family Service (then known as the Clothes Closet) was incorporated as a Minnesota nonprofit organization by these four founders on April 21, 1970. The United Way of Hastings provided a $1500 grant to secure a rental space, and Dawn Sheridan Beedle became its first Executive Director.
