Andover SDA Church

"Bags of love" provides essential items to foster children

Over 11,000 kids are in foster care in Minnesota right now. Most of these children enter into a foster home with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. This is a chance to change that, give them something to call their own; just a few items that we all take having for granted. Each bag of "immediate needs" items is personalized for age and gender.

Beginning in 2018, we chose to partner with an established Isanti, Minnesota non-profit agency, Safe Haven Foster Shoppe, to distribute "Bags Of Love" among foster children in several surrounding counties. This change increases our outreach potential in the community well beyond Anoka County. Since 2007, Andover SDA Women's Ministries assembled and donated 1,734 "Bags Of Love" to foster children in seven neighboring counties.

Currently, a bag costs about $35 to assemble, with fabric being the largest expense.

• Age and gender appropriate personal care/health items (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb/brush), toys, fleece blankets, stuffed animals, games, books, school supplies and activity sets are donated by church members and friends or interested sponsors.
• Women's Ministries volunteers rely on donated fabric, yarn, thread, etc., to create handmade quilts and large duffel carry sacks. The carry sacks are also used as pillow cases and laundry bags. 
• Cash and business donations have also advanced the ministry.
• Safe Haven Foster Shoppe will add a set of pajamas and a complete clothing outfit for each child.

"What's In a Bag?"