The statistics are staggering:
Homeless Children and Youth in Minnesota (from Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless)

• Children, youth, and young adults age 21 and younger made up 45 percent of all people experiencing homelessness in Minnesota the night of the survey.
• A total of 2,726 children age 17 and younger experienced homelessness with their parents on the night of the survey.
• 69 percent of homeless women had children under age 18, and 55 percent had at least one child with them; for men, the percentages were 35 percent and 6 percent respectively.
• On any given night in Minnesota , between 550 and 650 unaccompanied youth in Minnesota (persons 17 or younger) are without permanent shelter; over the course of one year, an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 Minnesota unaccompanied youth experience at least one episode of homelessness.
• 89 percent of homeless youth are enrolled in school.
• 51 percent of the youth experiencing homelessness have been physically or sexually mistreated.

But we can do something to help:
Donate new or gently used winter clothing to the “Share the Warmth” coat drive and make a difference in someone’s life!
Donations will be collected through October 26th and will then be delivered to Easter Lutheran Church in Eagan to be distributed to residents of Dakota County. Click HERE for more info. Help families stay warm this winter – A small act of kindness can make a big difference!

*As an added incentive, anyone donating winter clothing items will be entered into a drawing for prizes.
Together we can make a difference!