Adopt a Family

The Salvation Army’s Toy Shop is one of the largest providers of gifts to children ages 0-14 who may not otherwise receive anything at Christmas. Last year, our Toy Shop program brought joy to more than 23,000 Twin Cities children.

All gift donations should be unwrapped. Gifts or financial donations may be dropped off at The Salvation Army Northern Division Headquarters, 2445 Prior Ave. N., Roseville, MN, 55113.

Here are the three main ways you can help:

• In lieu of adopting a family, hold a Toy Shop gift drive at your workplace, church or school.
• Partner with family and friends to donate gifts for kids ages 0-14. While everything helps, our greatest shortage this year is gifts for children ages 7-14. View a list of the 2016 drop off locations.
• Donate online or mail a check with “Toy Shop” written in the memo line, which we can use to buy the types of gifts we need most.

Booth Brown House is a safe place for youth to turn when they have nowhere else to go. The Foyer Housing program helps vulnerable or disadvantaged youth, ages 16 to 24, transition from dependence to independence, while our homeless youth shelter provides help for 18 to 21-year-olds.

You can sponsor one of the 35 youth residents or 20 youth shelter guests and make their Christmas a little brighter. The residents will share a wish list of one to three items with the sponsor. Residents commonly include gift cards on their wish list. Those who adopt a youth shelter guest are asked to donate items that could work for anyone (gift cards, socks, toiletries, fun items), as shelter guests may not be the same night to night. The sponsor is not expected to spend more than $50-$75 per youth. All gifts should be unwrapped and dropped off by Wednesday, Dec. 7. For more information about sponsoring a youth resident, please email Erin Foss.

Harvest Hills is a group of eight permanent supportive housing units in Anoka County for families who struggle to afford traditional housing. Challenges for these families may also include more than one medical, mental health, or chemical health diagnosis. The program offers residents on-site case management support to help with needs such as educational or vocational goals, spiritual enrichment, physical, mental and chemical health, budgeting, life skills and more.

You can sponsor one of the homes to meet the basic needs of the family members and bring extra joy this Christmas. The sponsor is expected to spend $25 per family member in gifts, plus $10 per person in the form of a grocery gift card. Gifts should be wrapped and dropped off by Dec. 16.