Fergus Falls businesses surprise family with full bathroom renovation

The Mannie family walked into a bathroom transformed by Fergus Falls businesses that had kept the project secret until the reveal. The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce said the family received “the surprise of a lifetime” when the donated renovation was unveiled, a gesture the chamber said showed the love and support the family has in the community.

A May 6 post from the chamber said the bathroom was a complete top-to-bottom renovation, paid for entirely through donated labor and materials from local businesses. Among those named were Tasheena with Fresh & fancy @mamsheenas, Big Boys Painting, Fiskum Flooring, Fergus Home & Hardware and Calla Lily Designs. The chamber described the effort as part of the “Fergus Falls way” of doing business with integrity, craft and heart.

The project also fits the broader role the chamber says it plays in Fergus Falls and across Otter Tail County. The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce says it was started in 1886 and is the largest professional business membership organization in the county, with more than 330 members. Chamber materials say it works to connect businesses to the community and regularly celebrates renovations, ribbon cuttings and other milestones as part of its member services.

Several of the participating firms are long-established local operations. Cornerstone Kitchen & Bath says it has been in business since 2005 and offers custom, locally made countertops. Fergus Home & Hardware’s listing describes it as a full-service hardware, appliance, flooring, cabinet and countertop store. Calla Lily Designs says it provides flooring, cabinetry and countertops, along with guidance for remodels and new construction.

Taken together, the renovation showed how quickly Fergus Falls businesses can organize around a family in need and turn a private household project into a public example of local support. For the Mannie family, the surprise brought a finished bathroom. For the businesses involved, it reinforced a message the chamber was eager to put on display: community investment in Fergus Falls still runs through hands-on work, donated time and visible follow-through.