Winter Coats for Kids in Minneapolis

Every $100 will provide an inner-city kid with the opportunity to go shopping with a trusted adult for a new winter coat and gear.

Anitoch Ministries is a safe space and place for kids on and around the block to be and encounter Jesus – currently operating out of one house in North Minneapolis on Oliver Avenue. Antioch adults invest in and develop the neighborhood kids to make lasting change as they work to rebuild their community. School-aged kids from the neighborhood come to the Oliver House to be in a safe space – mentally, spiritually, and physically. They do activities like bible studies, community projects, build relationships and develop life skills. On top of the safety and fun activities at the Oliver House, they are seeking ways to help the kids build community with each other with safe events over winter break like sledding and other winter activities- the things that many kids get to do in the winter in Minnesota that this neighborhood does not have access to or resources for. Kids get to be kids and build relationship together!

The kids are learning how to love their community and be the change that brings lasting impact. These families were hit hard with COVID and are still living in that negative impact – job loss and school shutdowns; and violent protests and social unrests in the face of an already historically violent and low-income area hit these neighborhoods harder than others. Some kids saw their schools burn down, their parents lose jobs and had no where to get groceries for months.

The board and staff at Anitoch will take each school-aged particpant to shop for a winter coat and other snow gear. These kids get so much joy and take so much pride in the experience of being with a trusted and safe adult and obtaining something brand new – for most, this is not a regular experience. They are taught and shown how to model kindness and generousity for others in their community and bring more friends and relatives to Antioch Ministries. As this program grows, it will spread across more houses in the Twin Cities and more inner-cities.

Let’s come togehter to help kids know they are loved and seen. Let’s keep them warm this winter with new coats and gear and give them reason to continue being part of Antioch! The impact goes further than just one winter season – bringing them together and keepng them together – this is generational impact that keeps going and spreads throughout their neighborhood and city.