Refugee Services In-kind Donation Needs
Refugee Services provides support to refugees and immigrants in Minnesota. These donations will help families as they start anew after losing nearly everything to violence and persecution.
Where to donate
Smaller donations (1-2 bags or medium boxes, under 50 Ibs) can be dropped off between 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. at the front desk of our Minneapolis or St. Cloud office.
Larger donations (heavy boxes or many bags/boxes, furniture, etc.) must be coordinated with the Refugee Services team. Please reach out to us at [email protected] to coordinate drop off your items.
Donation Needs
Exact needs will vary daily, but we are always looking for the following items to help make an apartment into home:
- Bath towels
- Bed pillows
- Complete sheet sets (twin, full, queen)
- Backpacks for youth (particularly middle/high school)
- Stew pot / saucepans with lid
- Rice cookers
- Frying pan/skillet
- Wok with lid
- Stovetop teapots/electric kettles
- Silverware
- Kitchen knives
- Kitchen utensil sets
- Can openers
- Mixing bowls
- Bakeware
- Dish sets (not china)
- Drinking cups
- Garbage can and bags (kitchen sized)
- Small wastebaskets
- Toilet paper
- Shower Curtains/rings
- Electric alarm clock
- Light bulbs
- Vacuum
- Toys (no dogs or pigs please)
- Small tool kit
Don't forget to also look at our hygiene, Cleaning, or School Supplies Kit lists! This is a great service project for groups to gather items and put them together for newly arrived refugees.
Cleaning kit
- Broom/dust pan
- Mop/bucket
- Sponges (2-4)
- Scrub brushes (1)
- Multi-purpose cleaner (1 bottle)
- Dish soap (1 large bottle)
- Laundry soap (1 large bottle)
- Dish towel and rag
- Toilet brush and plunger
Toiletry kit
We do not have any need for more toiletry kits at this time.
School supply kit
We do not have any need for more school supplies kits at this time.
Other a la carte items
- Frying pan / skillet
- Wok with lid
- Dish soap
- Sponges
- Stovetop teapots
- Small wastebaskets
- Bath towels
- Laundry detergent
- Vacuum
- Toys (gender neutral)
- Pressure cooker
- Sheet sets (twin, double, full, queen)
- Hand sanitizer
- Face masks
Help us furnish an apartment!
Donors with new or gently used furniture should reach out to [email protected] to see what the most current need and capacity looks like. Please note we have limited storage space and are often moving the furniture ourselves or with a small team of volunteers, so we must be very selective about what we accept.
- Couches/love seats/comfortable chairs
- Dining tables and chairs
- Rugs
- Dressers
- Mattresses/boxsprings (twin, double, full, queen -- must be new or like new)
- Bed frames (twin, double, full, queen)
- Side table/coffee tables
- Lamps
- Cribs (less than 5 years old, in very good condition)
- Pack and Plays