Metro Homeless Youth Wish List
Thousands of Minnesota youth do not have a safe place to sleep on any given night. In the Twin Cities Metro, LSS offers several services for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
With your generosity, youth can begin rebuilding their lives. We welcome and appreciate donations of all sizes, from individual items to all the items needed to furnish one or more rooms.
Note: We are currently only able to accept new, unused, and unopened items.
Items Needed
Gift cards
Please make sure the value is written on the card
- TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Burlington ($25-$50)
- Target, Cub, Aldi, Walmart ($10-$50)
- Subway, McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Culver's, Chipotle, Caribou Coffee, Starbucks, etc. ($5-$10)
- Visa gift cards — youth can pay cell phone/electric bills or get exactly what they need
- Bus passes, Uber or Lyft gift cards – stored value and 31-day passes
- Earth's Beauty Supply or Sally's Beauty Supply
Hair accessories and products
Especially appropriate hair products.
- Hair brushes
- Hair binders
- Headbands
Grooming kits
- Nail clippers
- Nail file
- Small scissors
Kitchen items
- Pots and pans
- Dishes
- Silverware
- Cooking utensils
- Mixing bowls
- Kitchen towels
- Microwaves
- Toasters
Bath items
- Towels
- Hand Towels
- Rugs
- Washcloths
- Full-size and travel size toothpaste and body wash (no bar soap please)
- Travel size men's toiletry kits (containing shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, etc.)
- Travel size women's toiletry kits (containing shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, etc.)
- Travel size first aid kits
Newborn and baby basics
- Diapers and wipes
- BPA free bottles and pacifiers
- Baby wash
- Baby Lotion
- Crib sheets
- Baby dolls and Barbie dolls — for kids ages 6 months to 4 years
Clothing
- Socks — adult sizes
- Underwear — adult sizes, boxers and boxer briefs
- White T-shirts — adult sizes
- Tank tops/undershirts — all sizes, black and white
- Slippers and house shoes — all sizes
- Hooded sweatshirts — Men's sizes M-2XL and Women's sizes M-2XL
- Sweatpants — Men's sizes M-XL and Women's sizes S-XL
- Pajama pants — Men's sizes S-XL and Women's sizes S-XL
- Winter jackets — Men's sizes S-XL and Women's sizes S-XL
- Long underwear
- Winter hats — for extreme cold
- Gloves/mittens — for extreme cold
- Warm men's socks (white)
- Warm women's socks (white)
Miscellaneous
- Laundry pods
- Air mattresses with built in pumps (queen and double high)
- Heavy duty backpacks
- Sleeping bags (rated for cold weather, able to withstand temperatures of 0 degrees)
- Tents (able to sleep four or more people)
- Umbrellas
- Headphones
- Alarm clocks
- Cell phone battery chargers
Other Ways to Donate
Welcome baskets
Help us welcome young people into LifeHaven, Safe House and Rezek House with a welcome basket!
Youth often arrive with limited supplies. So, we give them baskets — our way of providing new, essential items for them and letting them know that we care about them and are here to support them.
Thank you for your generosity in partnering with us. We request that only new and full size items be included in the welcome baskets.
Groceries
Keeping our kitchens stocked with necessities is a great way to support the youth we serve! Plus, while participating in our services, youth develop skills related to nutrition, health and wellness through meal planning and preparation. Thanks for partnering with us to support young people in living full and abundant lives.
Make a meal
Support youth in our programs with a home-cooked or take-out meal! Youth are busy going to school, working, parenting, and creating plans towards stability and independence. Meals are greatly appreciated!
Where to Give
Thank you for giving youth the gift of a safe, stable home. Please email us for details on donating items.
Learn more about the many ways LSS supports Minnesota’s youth experiencing homelessness. To contribute financially to our services for youth, please make a gift.