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
• Hair accessories and products — especially African American hair products.
  • Hair brushes
  • Hair binders
  • Headbands
  • Gift cards to Earth's Beauty Supply or Sally's Beauty Supply
• 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
• New born 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 (especially brown skin dolls)
• Laundry pods
• Socks — all genders (adult sizes)
• Underwear — all genders (adult sizes, boxers and boxer briefs)
• White T-shirts — all genders (adult sizes)
• Tank tops/undershirts — all sizes, black and white
• Slippers and house shoes — all genders (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 (any gender)
• Winter hats — for extreme cold (all genders)
• Gloves/mittens — for extreme cold (all genders)
• Warm men's socks (white)
• Warm women's socks (white)
• 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
• USB flash drives
• Alarm clocks
• Cell phone battery chargers

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.