What started out in 2017 in a Becker garage as an effort to assist local foster and adoptive families with basic needs has now grown into a flourishing organization that provides support to a multi-county geographic area.

Based in a newly remodeled area in the Becker Furniture World complex, the Compassion Connection is helping not only foster and adoptive families, but members of the general public who are in need of supplies, support and services.

Amy and Kevin Drehmel, along with their Board of Advisors, held an open house this week to show off the new space, which is capable of serving a wide array of needs for the local and entire Central Minnesota community.

“At first, we catered to helping foster and adoptive families with some of their basic needs, but we soon found out that the need was much greater,” Amy says.  “Now we are in a position to help out before there is a need for foster care.”

Compassion Abounds

The new location has a two-fold mission: to support families, including those who may need an area for supervised visits, as well as to operate an area called the Compassion Closet.

The Compassion Connection sponsors events for families, such as the “Foster the Family Support Group” for foster, kinship, and pre and post-adoptive moms.

In the past six years, that support group alone has serviced 633 families, 4,071 kids and fulfilled 1,899 requests. 

At the Compassion Closet, the Drehmel’s and their army of volunteers store clothing, toys, books and numerous other supplies that are a lifeline for those in need. 

People can access the website and request items for a specific age range, from newborn to adult, and the volunteers will work to fulfill the request.

“If we have it, we are willing to give it,” says Kevin.  

Amy says that about 90% of their referrals come from Social Workers who are trying to help families, such as the one who came in recently with several children who were going into emergency placement and unable to bring any of their belongings with them.

With that request, the inventory at the closet was utilized to ensure that the children had the clothes and other supplies they needed to be able to carry on a sense of normalcy during a traumatic time.

Volunteers

Both Kevin and Amy are quick to acknowledge the dozens of volunteers and donors who make the entire operation possible.

“Our community is amazing at supporting these kids who are in crisis,” says Amy.  “None of this would be possible without their generosity.  We love the fact that our community rallies together to help with these needs.”

One example was the 2023 Secret Santa program that saw 111 children receiving gifts.  Each child had been sponsored by a community member and in many cases, the children had multiple donors.

Kevin and Amy recalled the joy felt by the children, along with the social workers in attendance, as they came through the line and received their gifts.

It’s that collaboration that allows the Compassion Connection to continue to provide an amazing level of support, yet still continue to grow their operations and capabilities.

“Not everyone can foster a child, but if everyone does one thing to help, we will have accomplished a lot,” Amy adds.

Demand

A review of the statistics shows that the needs of the community have grown exponentially in the past years.  By the end of 2022, over 400 kids had been helped and in 2023, that number tripled to 1,200 kids.  In January of 2024, there were already 153 requests filled just in that month.

Anyone interested in helping, volunteering or learning more about the program are encouraged to check out the Compassion Connection website at: thecompassionconnectionmn.com.

“There’s always a need and we will do our best to fill it,” Kevin says.  “Our community has been a real blessing.”

And just like their motto says, every child is one caring adult away from success.