In-Kind Donations

View this task on our volunteer page for all the details: agatemn.volunteerhub.com/comfortkits

When we transition someone into their own home, they often don’t have everything they need and must wait weeks to get those supplies. It can be challenging for them if they don’t have a TV to watch, a book to read, or crafts/games to keep themselves busy during that period. 

Additionally, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, our on-site supportive housing residents, shelter residents, and Welcome Center visitors have been left with fewer options to keep themselves busy and fill their free time. It has been a tremendous challenge for our residents who are used to spending their time visiting friends and family as well as visiting congregate community spaces that are no longer available.

As human beings, we all deserve to relax and entertain ourselves as we navigate life. Help out our program participants by providing with them Comfort Kits! 

Volunteers gather, purchase, and assemble kits. Once kits are complete, they drop them off at our Main Office on 2309 Nicollet Ave S., Minneapolis MN, 55404 by appointment. This is a great activity to do as a group with your family, friends, school, workplace, or community group as it can be done on your own time and fit a wide variety of budgets. 

Please assemble the following items in bags, backpacks, tupperware containers, or gallon Ziploc bags.

Adult-focused Comfort Kits:

• Adult coloring books
• Journal or notebook
• Gift cards (e.g., coffee shop, grocery store, etc.)
• Art Supplies such as…
  Sketchbooks, watercolor or other painting supplies, colored pencils, markers, etc.
• LED battery-operated candles (example)
• Crosswords, sudoku, or word puzzles
• Bath bomb or bath salts (must be new and unopened)
• Chocolates or candy (must be new and unopened)
• Origami kit
• Sewing kit
• Card game
• Board game
• Puzzles (500 piece or less preferred)
• Sculptors clay set
• Books (e.g., related to self care or self growth)

Pre-teen and older youth-focused Comfort Kits:

• Gift cards (e.g., Target, clothing stores, game stores, etc.)
• Headphones/Earbuds
• Art Supplies such as…
  Sketchbooks, watercolor or other painting supplies, colored pencils, markers, etc.
• “Adult” coloring books (ones containing greater detail work)
• Chocolates or candy (must be new and unopened – allergen friendly is a plus)
• Journal or notebook
• Card game
• Board game
• Puzzles (500 piece or less preferred)
• Sculptors clay set
• Books

Child-focused Comfort Kits:

• Journals/notebooks
• Adult coloring books
• Markers/colored pencils/crayons
• Gift cards (e.g., toy stores, game stores, etc.)
• Arts and craft supplies
• Clay sculpting kits
• Playdoh
• Bubbles
• Watercolor painting supplies
• Finger painting supplies
• Paint by number
• Origami kit
• Fidget Spinners
• Sensory Toys
• Cards or card games
• Small board games
• Puzzles
• Mind games/riddle book
• Crossword puzzles/sudoku/other related games
• Small, electronic games

You are welcome to include any combination of the above list, or to include other items you think would be beneficial. We just ask you avoid real candles (these are not allowed in our buildings for safety purposes) and ensure items are new or in like-new condition (i.e., journals have not been written in, puzzles have all their pieces, no items have rips, stains, or tears, etc.). 

When your kits are ready, please click HERE.

Contact Abby Abele (Community Organizer and In-Kind Donation Manager) at Abigail.Abele@agatemn.org or 612-715-0449 with any questions, or to schedule a drop off directly. 

View this task on our volunteer page for all the details: agatemn.volunteerhub.com/snackpacks

Snack packs are given to our program participants who arrive at our Welcome Center to access supportive services. Being able to offer ‘quick fuel’ in the form of a small resource like this creates a positive community atmosphere in our spaces while clients access needed services. 

Snack packs are typically sandwich or gallon-sized baggies that include non-perishable foods, water bottles, and other bonus goodies that donors choose to include (e.g. washcloth, gift card, etc).

Below is our suggested list of what to include (feel free to include as few or as many of these items as you’re able!):

• Beef Jerky
• Protein shake
• Granola or soft textured Nutrition Bars
• Trail Mix
• Pudding Cups
• Fruit Snacks
• Small Cookie Packs
• Small Cracker Packs
• Small and Large Bottles of Water
• Juice Boxes/Bags
• Snack Crackers
• Candy
• Dried Fruit
• Flavoring Packets like Crystal light, Kool-Aid, or Gatorade packets
• Plastic Utensil Packets, or Reusable Utensils

We suggest packing items in gallon or snack-sized baggies with the same combination of items for each snack pack. 

You are welcome to include any combination of the above list, or to include other items you think would be beneficial, such as simple clothing like t-shirts, or weather-based items like hand warmers in winter, rain ponchos in the spring, or ice packs in summer. 

Contact Abby Abele at Abigail.Abele@AgateMN.org or 612-715-0449 with any questions, or to schedule a drop off once packs are assembled.

Thank you for your supporting your investment in our mission to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy!

View this task on our volunteer page for all the details: agatemn.volunteerhub.com/weatherkits

If you grew up in Minnesota, you know the unpredictable and severe weather this season can bring. We serve a wide variety of people experiencing homelessness, from those in residence with limited supplies to shelter guests and unhoused neighbors living outdoors in all weather conditions. It can get dangerously wet, cold, or hot depending on the time of year, so we hand out kits specialized for each season here in Minnesota. We need your help gathering supplies to keep our residents, guests, and unsheltered neighbors safe. 

To create Weather Protection Kits, please gather and assemble the following into bags or easy-to-carry containers (e.g. backpacks, grocery bags, paper bags, trash bags, draw-string bags, or other bags/containers of your choosing).

First Priority Items:

• Plastic bottles of water (example | Note: While we also accept reusable water bottles, plastic bottles of water are our highest need as our Outreach teams are going out into areas to provide immediate/emergency care where there may not be safe drinking fountains/refillable water sources nearby) 
• Tents (example 1, example 2) 
• Tarps (example 1, example 2) 
• Sleeping bags (example 1, example 2)
• Rain ponchos  (example 1, example 2)
• Emergency blankets (example1, example 2)

Second Priority Items:

• T-Shirts (example 1, example 2 | Men’s sizes L and XL are our highest need, but we can accept all adult sizes M-4X)
• Sweatpants (example 1, example 2 | Men’s sizes L and XL are our highest need, but we can accept all adult sizes S-4X)
• Underwear – NEW ONLY (example 1, example 2 | Men’s sizes L and XL are our highest need, but we can accept all Men’s sizes M-XL, and Women’s sizes 6 – 14/M-XL) 
• Socks – NEW ONLY (example 1, example 2)
• Umbrellas (example 1, example 2) 
• Ready to eat Snack Foods (example 1, example 2 | jerky and chips are the most requested by our clients) 

Our suggestion: choose at least 2-3 first priority items (e.g., tarp, bottled water, rain poncho) and then include however many second priority items you desire. 

Guidelines and notes (read before kit assembly):

• Products included in kits must be new/unused. For clothing items, any used clothing must in very good condition and laundered with no stains or holes. 
• We also accept (and greatly appreciate!) individual donations of each of these listed items. Delivery can be arranged through a drop-off coordinated with Abby (info below) or easily arranged and delivered to us through a third party via our Amazon Wishlist.
• If you would like to add any notecards/messages, or items that are not listed above, please text/call/or email Abby (info below) beforehand to ensure that the Donation Center is able to accept them. Thank you so much!

Have Questions? Ready to schedule a drop-off?

Contact Abby Abele (Community Organizer & In-Kind Donation Manager) by text or call at 612-715-0449, or by email at abigail.abele@agatemn.org.

View this task on our volunteer page for all the details: agatemn.volunteerhub.com/welcomehome

Collect and donate the supplies your neighbors need to be successful in stable living! We have a variety of housing teams that help our unhoused neighbors get into a place they can call home. Welcome Baskets support people transitioning from homelessness into their own apartments and homes.

We have a number of off-site housing programs and teams like Housing First, Family Rapid Rehousing, Single Adult Supportive Housing, and more that supports individuals transitioning out of homelessness. These baskets provide those individuals the things they need to get started in a home such as, dishes, pots and pans, a broom, etc.

This is a great activity for girl/boy scout troops, family gatherings, faith groups relationship building, or even corporate giving!

Possible Supplies: 

• Sponges
• Dish soap
• Laundry basket
• Laundry detergent
• All purpose cleaners and other cleaning supplies
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper
• Broom and dust pan
• Garbage bags
• Mop and floor cleaner
• Shower towels
• Shower curtains
• Cookware
• Disinfectant wipes
• Clothes hamper
• Dryer sheets
• Shower Curtains 
• Dishware
• Utensils 
• Non-perishable foods
• Microwavable meals
• Snacks
• Personal hygiene supplies
• Small space heater
• Fan
• Air freshener

Feel free to include bonus items you think might be helpful. You do not need to include everything on this list to make a Welcome Home Basket. However, do your best to attain the bolded items on this list, as many residents may not have any of these when they first move in.

After your baskets are all assembled, please click HERE.

Contact Abigail Abele (Volunteer and In-kind Coordinator) at abigail.abele@agatemn.org or 612-715-0449 with any questions, or to schedule a drop off directly.