Today we’d like to introduce you to Perry McAfee.
Hi Perry, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story really started with just wanting to help families in a more meaningful, hands-on way. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in different roles serving vulnerable populations—at the Houston Food Bank, Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston, and later with Caregiver, Inc., supporting individuals with disabilities and foster care programs. Those experiences gave me a front-row seat to the real-life challenges families face every day.
What I kept noticing was this: families rarely struggle with just one issue. If they needed food, they often also needed help with employment, housing stability, or support for their children’s behavioral health needs. But the services to help them were all scattered across different systems. It was overwhelming for families to navigate, and many would just give up.
That realization led me to start Cornerstone Family Resource Center.
In the beginning, it was very grassroots. We started by simply providing food distributions in affordable housing communities. My philosophy was always, “food opens the door.” When families come for food, you build trust. And once trust is there, you can connect them to the other supports that really change lives—things like case management, youth support services, GED classes, employment resources, and community navigation.
Over time, CFRC grew into a true wraparound support organization. Today we’re partnering with apartment communities, schools, and healthcare-related programs like the YES Waiver to support children with emotional disturbances and their families. We’re also working closely with the Houston Food Bank and launching new initiatives in schools to connect families to resources earlier.
Right now, we’re in an exciting transition phase. For years, we’ve operated inside apartment communities, but we’re now working toward establishing our own stand-alone center. The vision is to create one welcoming hub where families can come for food, resources, youth programs, and ongoing support—all under one roof.
At the heart of it all, my motivation is simple: I believe when you meet families where they are, build genuine relationships, and support the whole family—not just one need—you can help create long-term stability and real change. That belief is what got me started, and it’s what keeps me going today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road—at all. Starting and growing a grassroots nonprofit like Cornerstone Family Resource Center has been incredibly rewarding, but also very challenging.
One of the biggest struggles has been funding and stability. When you’re serving families with high needs, the demand is constant, but the funding is not always consistent. In the early days especially, I often found myself trying to figure out how to keep programs running month to month while still expanding services to meet the growing need. That tension between impact and sustainability is something many nonprofit leaders understand all too well.
Another challenge has been space. For years, we operated directly inside affordable housing communities, which allowed us to be close to the families we serve. That model worked well in many ways, but it also meant we were dependent on property management decisions that were sometimes out of our control. We’ve had to navigate situations where ownership changes or policy shifts affected our ability to operate on-site, which forced us to adapt quickly and rethink our long-term strategy. Those moments were stressful, but they also pushed us to start planning for a stand-alone center so we can have more stability.
There have also been emotional challenges. We work with families facing poverty, behavioral health crises, and complex life situations. Supporting them means walking alongside them during some very difficult moments—children struggling with emotional disturbances, parents overwhelmed by financial pressure, families trying to avoid eviction or job loss. That work is meaningful, but it can also be heavy. Learning how to lead with compassion while still maintaining boundaries and organizational sustainability has been a major growth area for me as a leader.
Staffing and volunteer capacity has been another hurdle. As demand grew, I had to build systems, recruit volunteers, and train staff—often while still being very hands-on in direct service. Balancing leadership, program development, partnerships, and day-to-day operations is not easy, especially in a small nonprofit where you wear many hats.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I lead Cornerstone Family Resource Center, where we specialize in providing wraparound support to families in underserved communities—starting with food assistance and building deeper connections through case management, youth and family support services, employment resources, and community navigation. I’m probably best known for our “lead with food, build with relationships” approach, where food distributions become the entry point to longer-term stability and trust with families. I’m most proud of the way we’ve been able to walk alongside families holistically, not just meeting an immediate need but helping them address the bigger picture over time. What sets us apart is that we don’t operate from a distance—we embed ourselves directly in the communities we serve, form genuine relationships, and tailor services to what residents actually need rather than offering one-size-fits-all programs.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Fishing trips with my dad and his friends.
Pricing:
- All services are free to the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Cornerstonefrc.org
- LinkedIn: Cornerstone Family Resource Center
