When Joan Bednarczyk first got a call from Anoka County social worker Barb Wold in 2010, she had no idea it would spark more than a decade of leadership and community transformation. At the time, Joan was working at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Anoka in social outreach, helping families in need connect with local resources. The small homeless shelter on Ferry Street—a converted fourplex—was struggling, and Barb asked if Joan could help.
By the end of that afternoon, Joan had assembled a board of twelve community members—bankers, social workers, an insurance agent, an attorney—people with both heart and expertise. Together, they began laying the groundwork for what would become Stepping Stone Emergency Housing.
Finding the Right Home
From the beginning, it wasn’t easy. The group toured multiple sites across Anoka County before Joan—also serving as a chaplain at the Anoka Regional Treatment Center—remembered an old county-owned property she’d visited by chance while ministering to patients: the Cronin Building.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be there,” Joan laughed. “But had I not gone, I wouldn’t have known the building existed. It was perfect—solid, well-built, and ready to become a shelter.”
On Thanksgiving Eve 2011, Joan and two others met with Jerry Soma, then Director of Human Services for Anoka County. Within a year, the county agreed to let the fledgling organization move in. “Jerry said, ‘Let me handle this part,’” Joan recalled. “He knew the channels, and things just fell into place. It really was a God thing.”
In November 2012, Stepping Stone officially opened its doors in the Cronin Building. “It was the perfect setup,” Joan said. “Separate wings for men and women, a shared dining area—it was exactly what we needed.”
Community Spirit and Quiet Miracles
The early days were powered by volunteers and what Joan calls “quiet miracles.” When staff unexpectedly left one afternoon, retired county leaders Edna Hoium and Sandy Carter immediately stepped in to manage the shelter until new staff were hired. “They saved us,” Joan said. “So many things just worked out beyond our control.”
When the shelter needed a new freezer, Joan found out at a board meeting that a delivery truck had arrived unexpectedly. The donor? Her son Nick and his wife, Kari. “I didn’t even know they knew we needed one,” Joan said. “Within twenty-four hours, they went out, bought one, and had it delivered.”
That same spirit of service would later lead Nick to Stepping Stone’s board himself.
Following in His Mother’s Footsteps
By 2010, Nick was focused on building his business and raising two young children—joining a board was the last thing on his mind. More than a decade later, in 2023 or early 2024, a series of coincidences changed that. “I got a random LinkedIn message from Tom Stinson asking if I’d meet for coffee to talk about Stepping Stone,” Nick recalled. “That same week, I went to Mass and sat in a completely different spot. Who’s sitting next to me? Tom Stinson. I took that as a sign.” Shortly afterward, Nick joined the board and soon found himself stepping into a leadership role.
Nick officially joined the board in 2024, and over time, his involvement deepened. “I’ve felt pulled into leadership in a lot of areas—business, nonprofit, even politically—but Stepping Stone is personal,” he said. “I’ve watched what faith and community can do together.”
Today, as Board Chair, Nick continues the family legacy—bringing steady leadership and a focus on addressing the root causes of homelessness.
Faith, Family, and the Future
Both Joan and Nick see Stepping Stone as more than a shelter—it’s a living expression of compassion in action. Joan calls it “a God thing” from start to finish. “Every person who showed up, every donation, every open door—it was never just coincidence,” she said.
Nick agrees. “We can’t just treat the symptoms; we have to change mindsets. Many people struggling with homelessness have faced trauma or hardship that left them stuck. When we meet them with love and stability, transformation starts.”
The pair also share concern for the growing number of seniors facing homelessness—a fast-rising demographic in Anoka County. “We need creative ways to use vacant buildings for housing,” Joan said. “That’s how Stepping Stone started—with imagination, teamwork, and faith.”
A Call to Say Yes
When asked what advice they’d give to someone thinking about getting involved, Nick smiled. “You just have to say yes to the first step. You don’t have to know exactly where you’ll fit or what you’ll do. Once you say yes, the rest will fall into place.”
Joan nodded. “And remember, not everyone’s called to direct service. Some people volunteer behind the scenes, others give financially or pray for the work being done. Every gift matters.”
More than a decade after that first call from Barb Wold, the Bednarczyks’ legacy continues to shape Stepping Stone’s mission—anchored in faith, community, and a simple willingness to say yes.