For many of the newly resettled refugees in Minnesota, this will be their first experience of a bitter cold winter. As you can imagine, winter can be shocking for new arrivals, especially if they don’t have the right gear to stay warm.
So partnering with the International Institute of Minnesota (IIM), we put a call out for donations of winter gear to bring some warmth and comfort for these families experiencing the cold for the very first time…
And boy were we amazed by the response!
Donations came in from all over the Twin Cities – some people brought in their gently used things, and others purchased brand new gear on our Amazon wish list.
In just a short amount of time, we gathered dozens of winter items: coats, snow pants, gloves, and hats. They’re going to families who are new to this area – now they’ll be better prepared to handle the months ahead.
We were inspired by the generosity of so many Minnesotans. Jesse and Kristen recently moved back to their home state and are anticipating the cold months ahead – as they prepare, they also want to help others get prepared. They will be donating coats to a recently arrived Congolese family that they’ve been mentoring.
Mikayla heard about the Winter Coat Drive and she immediately jumped into action, gathering high quality coats and winter gear she had accumulated over the years. Mikayla is a former refugee herself, her family having fled the Khmer Rouge regime, resettling in the United States in the 1980s. For her, giving back to families who are now experiencing what she did so many years ago gives her comfort and hope for their futures in Minnesota.
We are still accepting winter gear donations! Here is our Amazon wish list.
