March 17 (PM):
Here is an update on how St. Stephen’s is responding to COVID-19 as of March 17th. Our programs and services continue to operate (with some modifications), and we are committed to maintaining these essential services for as long as we can safely do so. The people we serve are at greater risk of physical and economic harm from COVID-19 and its ripple effects, and we will do all that we can to help individuals and families navigate these challenges.
We need your support to keep our clients connected to critical services. As the pool of available resources shrinks for people experiencing homelessness, our programs are especially important in the role of meeting people where they’re at and providing a safe refuge.
How You Can Help St. Stephen’s Right Now:
1) Make a financial donation. Your online gift will go to work immediately providing financial support for our program operations and allow us to respond to emergency needs.
2) Volunteer in your own home to prepare meals for our shelter guests. Eighty percent of our shelter meals are normally purchased, prepared, and served by volunteer meal groups, and we have added an off-site option to create social distance.
3) Be a Virtual Volunteer by supporting shelter meals in other ways. Looking for a way to support a local restaurant that is limited to take-out? Talk to us about ordering and donating a catered meal. Here is a list of local restaurants that are operating for take-out. Or, you can virtually serve a meal by making a gift online. In the Designation menu, select “Shelter,” and then type “Shelter Meal” in the optional comment box at the bottom of the form. If you are able, $200 to $250 translates to approximately one meal for 50 shelter guests. But, gifts of any amount are welcomed and can be designated for shelter meals.
4) Donate specific items that we can distribute immediately to the people we serve. We are temporarily narrowing our wish list to 14 critical items (see below). Please schedule drop-offs of these items in advance with Amanda ( or 612-481-9501).
Together, we can work to protect some of our community's most vulnerable members. Thank you for being a part of our efforts.
Do you have other questions about ways to help? We'd love to connect with you. Please email us at .
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March 17 (AM) With Wishlist Updated March 25:
In order to focus resources on items that can immediately be distributed to the people we serve, we are temporarily narrowing our agency wishlist to the following items:
- Respiratory masks
- Hand sanitizer (60%+ alcohol, travel-sized preferred)
- Tents
- Tissues (regular boxes and personal size)
Rubber gloves- Underwear for all bodies
- Tarps
- Thermal underwear for all bodies
- Wet Wipes (individual packs)
- Travel-sized toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap & lotion
- Infrared thermometers
- Plastic spray bottles (32oz or 16oz preferred)
- Gift cards for fast food or gas
- Cell phones
- Traditional thermometers with disposable covers
- Cereal
- Breakfast Bars (Individually packaged)
- Healthy Snacks (Individually packaged)
- Ramen Packets (Chicken flavor)
Please schedule drop-off's (of these items only) in advance with Amanda, Volunteer & Giving Coordinator ( or 612-481-9501). We deeply appreciate your support.
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March 11:
St. Stephen’s Human Services is closely monitoring COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) developments, and we are being proactive in regards to potential impacts on the homelessness service sector in Minnesota. We are working with the appropriate authorities and other providers to ensure comprehensive response plans are in place. We know that folks sleeping outside or in shelter are at higher risk for contracting any illness and we are engaging in extra education and action around illness prevention.
Our primary request from the public at this time is for donations of frozen meals to have on hand at our emergency shelters. Learn more about this opportunity to help here. Meal drop-offs must be scheduled in advance, must prepared in line with that document, and must be dropped off at our main office (2309 Nicollet Ave). Our friends at The Link have generously shared these recipe ideas as inspiration.
At this time we are also grateful for donations of the following items:
hand sanitizer
hand soap
disinfecting wipes
*disposable masks
paper towels
toilet paper
Because these products are in very high demand, stock and price can change frequently. These fluctuations can make it challenging for people we serve with limited time, resources, and/or transportation options to access these items. Our Donation Center hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-2 pm at 2309 Nicollet Avenue. To make a donation of items, please park in front of our ramp on Nicollet and check in at the Welcome Center. If you know when you will be stopping by, please contact our Volunteer and Giving Coordinator, Amanda Hancer, at or 612-481-9501.
Thank you for helping us be proactive in these efforts. We will be updating this page as needed.
Read more:
The coronavirus poses a major threat to homeless populations in San Francisco, LA, and Seattle -- the two crises could soon intersect. Business Insider, March 10, 2020
Minnesota nonprofits, foundations prep for potential coronavirus outbreak. Star Tribune, March 4, 2020
*We know there is an insufficient supply of masks throughout the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that emergency shelters stock extra disposable masks at this time. Masks would be used only in line with CDC recommendations.