Refugee families arrive in Minnesota with very few belongings and limited financial resources. Welcome Kits help to ease the strain of resettlement by providing basic household items to newly arrived families. This means that families don’t have to expend their limited time and resources to attain these necessities. Perhaps most importantly of all, the gift of a welcome kit offers a message of welcome and hospitality to our newest neighbors.
Urgent Donation Needs:
Toothpaste
Gently used pots and pans
Can openers
Silverware
Cleaning supplies (Dish soap, all purpose cleaner, baking soda, vinegar, buckets, mops, brooms, cleaning rags)
Towels
Pillows
Full-sized and twin-sized bedding
New adult socks
Furniture Needed for Refugee Families:
Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services has space to accept furniture donations! Families are in great need of mattress/box spring sets, bed frames, sofas, dining room tables, dining room chairs and coffee tables. If you have any of these items to donate, please contact Green (contact information below).
We Can Accept:
Mattresses/ Box spring Sets
Bed frames
Sofas
Recliners
Dining room tables
Dining room chairs
Lamps
Coffee Tables
End Tables
Set of drawers
Other (call before bringing them over)
We Cannot Accept:
Anything ripped or torn, soiled, dirty or smelly
Incomplete sets (i.e. lamp without shade, couch without cushions, etc)
Anything that belongs outdoors (lawn furniture, gardening supplies, mowers, etc.)
Anything that requires special expertise to use (unicycle, lefse-making supplies, etc.)
Appliances (TVs, microwaves, dehydrators, toasters, etc.), unless specifically requested.
Waterbeds
Computers, unless specifically requested
Box springs without mattresses (there may be cases where we accept mattresses without box springs)
King-sized beds
Tupperware without lids
Head/footboards
Donation Instructions:
All non-furniture items can be delivered to the MN Church Center (122 W Franklin Ave Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN) during normal business hours. For furniture donation arrangements or donation-related questions, please contact Green Bouzard at green.bouzard@mnchurches.org or 612.230.3249.
Learn about other donation opportunities at the Minnesota Council of Churches.
