The Center for Family Resources: Strengthening individuals, families, and communities

The Center for Family Resources began its journey towards strengthening individuals, families, and communities in 1960. Founders Fred Bentley, Sr., Howard Ector, and Harry Holliday mobilized their resources in order to bring six separate emergency service providers together under one umbrella organization. From this vision, the Cobb County Emergency Aid Association (CCEAA) was born. Incorporated on May 17, 1960, the CCEAA, under the direction of Florence Beddingfield, provided financial assistance, furniture, clothing, medical supplies, and food to those in need, as well as administered a Christmas program to low-income residents in the Cobb community.

By the 1970s, CCEAA was able to expand its staff to three full-time people. Additionally, with the leadership of Sue Mashburn, a dedicated supporter of CCEAA, the organization was able to establish a 24-hour answering service utilizing the help of community volunteers. The 24-hour answering service played an integral role in the progression of the organization and allowed CCEAA with a more efficient way of serving clients who faced financial crises.

In the 1980s, the organization began to reorganize and add new programs and supportive services, including comprehensive case management, in an effort to provide clients with long-term solutions leading to self-sufficiency. With Jeri Barr appointed as the director in 1984, CCEAA established its four main program areas—Direct Services, Housing Services, Employment/Education Services, and Community Services. CCEAA played an integral role in establishing the Marietta-Cobb Winter Shelter, which provided congregate shelter to families during the winter months, but the organization saw a more emergent need for long-term housing for homeless families.

With the 1990s came more organizational change. In 1994, the CCEAA changed its name to Cobb Family Resources to emphasize its evolution from providing only emergency services, to broadening its scope and offering more long-term solutions, as well. Specifically, Housing Services reached new heights when the organization acquired Cambridge Woods, a 32-unit apartment complex, to provide longer-term, transitional housing for clients, as well as affordable housing for the Cobb community. All programs experienced growth, and the organization was not only providing financial assistance for rent and utilities, food from its food pantry, and short-term housing, but life-skills training; GED preparation and adult literacy classes; tutoring and mentoring for Cobb’s youth; and job skills, computer training, and budgeting classes. In 1996, Cobb Family Resources established the Community Leadership Development program, which provides organized groups from low-income neighborhoods with the leadership skills and tools needed to help address and resolve issues in their neighborhoods.

The turn of the millennium provided opportunities in the expansion, programmatically, as well as physically. In 2004, Cobb Family Resources changed its name, again, to The Center for Family Resources in order to better reflect its vision as one place a family can come to get the resources they need. Additionally, CFR embarked upon its first capital campaign, Share Our Bold Vision for a Stronger Community, to establish a new home that would serves as a “one stop shop” for families in need. With the help of many tremendous community leaders, CFR was able to establish the Mansour Center, a 60,000-square-foot facility that serves as a home to many of Cobb County’s leading nonprofit organizations. The Mansour Center has allowed The Center for Family Resources to come full-circle and truly establish itself as the founders envisioned the organization—a place where families in need can come to receive services and where nonprofits can work collaboratively together to better meet the needs of the community.