Donate Items

We are so thankful you’ve thought of donating items to HOPE 4 Youth. Many of our youth have little/nothing when they come to us and being able to provide clothing, food, and other items helps restore a sense of hope, self-worth, and dignity.

Since we serve on-the-go young people, there’s always a big need for things like gas cards, single-serving beverages, foods that travel well and personal hygiene items. We also stock a closet with clothing commonly needed by young people facing homelessness.

This page contains lists of our most needed items and things we cannot accept. It is helpful to read through the information before gathering supplies for us. Details about delivering supplies, hosting supply drives and giving through our Target and Amazon wish lists are listed below the donation information.

Items we need

Top Needs 11.3.2022These supplies are also always among our top needs, and we greatly appreciate receiving them:

– $20 gas cards (be sure to list amount on card)

– $20 gift cards to Target & Walmart (be sure to list amount on card)

– Bottled water and Gatorade

– New sweatpants and sweatshirts up to size 4XL

Choose an upcoming Tuesday night and provide a meal that can serve 14 – 16 youth at our Drop-In Center. Per food safety guidelines, all meals brought into HOPE 4 Youth need to be prepared in a licensed kitchen.

There are three options:

  1. Prepare a meal off-site in a licensed community kitchen (church, school, etc) or our kitchen at HOPE 4 Youth.
  2. Purchase retail foods to be prepared onsite. Must be unopened and labeled (ex: take and bake lasagna; retail meal items like Costco or Simek’s; Cub foods deli items). Sandwiches can be prepared and put together on-site if you bring in the ingredients needed.
  3. Bring in food from a restaurant.

Dinner meal donations need to be received by 4:30pm, to be served between 5 -6 p.m. You may have access to the kitchen earlier, if needed.

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Since we serve young people on the move, donations of travel-size and single-serving foods are most helpful:

  • Cookies and crackers
  • Fruit and pudding cups
  • Jerky packets
  • Noodle meals like Yakisoba and Ramen
  • Microwavable beef stews
  • Microwavable soups
  • Nuts and trail mixes
  • Ethnic hair products
  • Deodorant
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Toothpaste
  • Tooth brushes
  • Body wash

We appreciate getting the following clothing items in any size but are often most in need of larger ones, including XL-4XL. When considering a clothing donation, ask yourself if you would give it to a teenager in your family. If the answer is yes, it’s likely a good fit for HOPE 4 Youth.

Women:

  • New bras and sports bras
  • New bikini underwear
  • New and gently used yoga pants and leggings

Men:

  • New boxers and boxer briefs 
  • New crew-neck t-shirts 

Both:

  • New ankle (no-show) socks
  • New and gently used tennis shoes
  • New and gently used stylish t-shirts
  • New and gently used jeans, sweatpants, and athletic shorts

The youth we serve are often mobile, so bed and bath supplies that can be packed into backpacks and duffel bags are appreciated. Helpful items include:

  • New fleece or tie-blankets
  • New travel-size pillows and pillowcases
  • New bath towels
  • New and like-new backpacks and duffel bags

Other items needed:

  • New games or toys
  • Young adult books

We appreciate getting the following clothing items in any size but are often most in need of larger ones, including XL-4XL.

Spring/Summer/Fall:

  • New and gently used windbreakers, fleece and light jackets
  • New and gently used rainwear
  • New and gently used sandals and flip-flops
  • Umbrellas
  • Sunscreen and bug spray (unopened)

Winter:

  • New thermal underwear
  • New wool socks
  • New and gently used coats
  • New and gently used snow pants
  • New and gently used boots

When deciding whether to include a gently used item in your donation, ask yourself if it is something you would consider giving to a family friend or young coworker. If you would, include it in your donation to HOPE 4 Youth. If not, check the list of other charities we work with to see if there is another organization that could use the item in question.

We are unable to accept clothing of any kind that is stained or has rips, missing buttons or broken zippers. 

Items we cannot accept

Because we serve only 16- through 24-year-olds, we are unable to take some types of clothing and accessories. We also cannot accept food that is expired, and due to limited storage space, we cannot accept furniture and home decor.

For your convenience, we’ve included links to partner charities that take things we aren’t able to handle.

  • Candy
  • Expired items
  • Perishable foods
  • Foods in extra-large containers 
  • Used or expired makeup and supplies
  • Used brushes and combs
  • Used or opened products
  • Clothing babies, young children and senior citizens
  • Hand-knit or crocheted hats, scarves or mittens
  • Clothing with company names and logos
  • Clothing from fundraising events
  • Used underwear
  • Used socks
  • Men’s and women’s business attire 
  • Women’s formal dresses
  • Women’s dressy high heels or high-heeled boots
  • Bedding
  • Afghans and quilts
  • Curtains
  • Dishes and glasses
  • Furniture
  • Pots and pans
  • Silverware and other utensils
  • Used toys and games 
  • Sleeping bags
  • Suitcases
  • Tents
  • Bikes

Anoka Community Mission/Little  Blessings serves families with babies and young children. Connect with this organization to donate baby and children’s clothing, toys, books and other equipment for youngsters. (763-427-1833)

Anoka Community  Brotherhood Council (ACBC) Food Shelf serves people in need in Anoka County. Connect with this charity to donate clothing for all ages not served by HOPE 4 Youth, linens, bedding, books and toys. (763-422-0046) 

Bikes4Kids collects and refurbishes used, serviceable bicycles to redistribute to kids and people in need. Connect with this community partner to donate bikes for our youth and others in the community. (info@bikes4kidsmn.org)

Bridging serves the Twin Cities area, providing donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. (952-888-1105)

The Twin Cities Salvation Army serves people in need across the metro area. Connect with this nonprofit for a wide variety of donations, including clothing, furniture and household goods. (800-456-4483)

The Animal Humane Society in Coon Rapids accepts old towels and blankets that do not contain stuffing. Call ahead to ensure these items are currently needed. (952-435-7738)

Delivery details

Donations from individuals and groups are accepted at our HOPE 4 Youth Donation Center in Anoka on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and by appointment on other days.

Our donations center is located on the front side of our facility at 2665 4th Ave. N. in Anoka (map).  Park on Pleasant Street, and look for the HOPE 4 Youth sign by the wooden ramp when delivering your donations (see photo).

Please do not leave donations outside the donation center door or the main Drop-In Center door.

View of your donation area from Pleasant Street

Donation drives

Another way to help us is by hosting a HOPE 4 Youth Supply Drive in your neighborhood, or at your workplace, school or church. Collect needed food items, hygiene products, seasonal clothing, and gift cards for our youth (see most needed items listed above) and then deliver them. To get started, click here to complete our form and tell us more about your drive. We’ll then be in touch to help with any details. 

Give supplies through Target and Amazon

Here’s an even easier way to help: If you’re a Target or Amazon shopper, you can order from our online wish lists and have the supplies shipped directly to us.

View our Target wish list.

View our Amazon wish list.

Bonus: If you use the AmazonSmile when you shop, you can make HOPE 4 Youth your charity of choice, and AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to us. Learn more about AmazonSmile. 

Still have questions about giving supplies? Contact Nikki: nkalvin@hope4youthmn.org or 763.323.2066, ext. 102.