Our nonprofit organization, Foster Together MN, is preparing to open 'Abundant Goods' as a welcoming place for foster, kinship, and adoptive families to gather essential items for children and youth in their care. Our hope is that this is a place of dignity, value, and community for all who enter. We are passionate about partnering with businesses, families, and individuals in our area to work together in moving this mission forward.

We are seeking $13,000 in funding to bring Abundant Goods by Foster Together MN to our local community as an opportunity to meet the tangible needs for foster, kinship, and adoptive families. This funding would support our initial start-up costs to get the space set up well for our vision, as well as at least the first year’s operational costs. We have finalized a contract with Family of Christ Church in Lakeville who will be providing the space for us to get started in. 

To avoid processing fees, please consider mailing a check to Foster Together MN, PO Box 240891, St. Paul MN 55124.

What is Abundant Goods? Abundant Goods by Foster Together MN is a shopping and resource center that is intentionally designed for foster, kinship, and adoptive families to collect items for youth who are in their care. Items include clothing, shoes, hygiene products, baby products, and other essential items. The space will be filled with positive affirmations, promoting dignity and value of all who enter. Families are able to come during our open shopping hours or by appointment with a Foster Together MN team member. 

Why is this important? In our short time of being established, there have been countless times that we hear the phrase “they came with nothing” from foster parents who have just had a youth placed in their care. While we have found great success with our Meet-A-Need program, we see a gap in being able to quickly fulfill tangible needs for emergency foster care placements. In 2021, we spent over $10,000 on outreach items through our Meet-A-Need program. It currently can take up to a week to collect or purchase and distribute all items for each request. By having a stocked resource center, we could more quickly get items in the hands of the foster family.

Abundant Goods will provide essential items to these youth, helping them find dignity and comfort during a traumatic and fearful time in their life. Through collaboration with foster families and agencies, we’ll be able to identify specific needs as well as opening up the Abundant Goods to foster families and youth to come shop for free. We will partner with the community to stock our shelves with new and gently used items that will go straight into the hands of youth in our community. This partnership will include donations and volunteer opportunities.

How will the funds be used? Money raised during this fundraising campaign will go directly to our start-up costs including construction, flooring, painting, shelving, storage totes, portable island carts, reusable bags, pantry cabinets, and more. Any extra funds will be used to support our short-term and long-term goals with the space, including a "kids corner", interior decorations, lighting, and urgent items to stock shelves. 

How else can I help?

• Volunteer: Visit our Sign Up Genius to volunteer for construction/building days. Sorting and setup volunteer opportunities coming soon.
• Collect Items: Host a Stock the Shelves event with your colleagues, neighbors, family, and friends. Please email us for a list of accepted items and most urgent need.
• Donate Items: We are limited on what we can accept until we are set up, but please email us for a list of accepted items and most urgent need. We do have an Amazon Wishlist set up that you can purchase from. You can also donate through one of our Stock The Shelves partner events. Visit our event schedule for more information.
• Spread the Word: Share our social media posts and this fundraiser with your network to help us get the word out!
• Help Raise Funds: By clicking on the button 'Fundraise' above and sharing your own personalized link! 

For questions or to chat about other partnership opportunities with Abundant Goods, contact our lead Brooke Smith at [email protected].