Giving to Children's
Gifts of Toys and Items

Support patients and families

You can support our patients through in-kind gifts of toys, supplies, activities or financial contributions. You can allow our staff to respond to specific needs by donating to the Foundation and allowing us to acquire the most helpful and needed items.

Ways to help directly

Financial contribution

By making a financial contribution, you’ll help Children’s Minnesota staff purchase toys, books, crafts and games tailored to our patients’ needs based on age, diagnosis and hospital appropriateness.

Wish list

Our wish lists are filled with items of greatest need to help make for a more comfortable and enjoyable stay for our patients and families.

To shop on Amazon and deliver items directly to the hospital: View wish lists

To purchase and drop off items to the hospital on your own: View wish list

Purchasing items to donate

Children’s Minnesota is only able to accept new, unopened, unused items with tags because of allergen and immunity concerns. Staff members will distribute items as needed to patients and families throughout our hospitals and clinics. Groups are not able to hand out items to patients and families due to HIPAA privacy regulations and our infection prevention policies. All donated food items will be put into our food pantries.

Items cannot include information that identifies past or present patients including (i.e. first and last name, birth date/death date, photo, story, etc.)

Get answers to other frequently asked questions here.

Kit building

As families come to Children’s Minnesota, the length of stay can be uncertain. These kits can help make our patients and families more comfortable during their stays.

  • All items are provided by your group.
  • These kits are to be made off-site.
  • Please package kits so they can be distributed to patients and families – we recommend using Ziplocs or clear bags with your company logo.
  • Click here for kit options and needs

Snack kits

Using our snack and amenities list, put together a snack pack for all ages. We cannot accept homemade treats.

Activity kits

Activity/coloring books, crayons, markers, sticker books, dot paints and books, MadLibs and gel pens, puzzles, travel-sized games such as Trouble, Connect Four, Spot It, etc. We can accept a maximum of 50 activity bags.

Journaling kits

Journaling is something we encourage our older patients to do on a regular basis. Gather materials such as a creative notebook, pen, etc., and include tips on how to journal.

Bracelet kits

Gather beads, string, and other bracelet-crafting materials, along with instructions and designs (supplies for both young kids & teens are needed!)

Amenity kits

Put together a kit of basic items like a deck of cards or puzzle book, stamps, pen, mints, hand sanitizer, lip balm, etc.

Toiletry Kits

Travel-sized items needs: toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lotion, calendula oil, coconut oil, shaving cream, shower gel.

Other items needed: toothbrush, wide tooth comb, hair brush, razor, lip balm, hair binders.

Having items bundled items in clear zipped bags and individually to customize to needs are appreciated.

Host a drive

Get a group together to collect much-needed items for Children’s Minnesota. Set up a drop-off station at your business or home to accept new, unused items for our patients and families.

Drive ideas

Drive Ideas:

Tie blankets

Children’s Minnesota accepts and distributes quilts and tie blankets. Fleece blankets are preferred as they are non-allergenic. Fun colors and patterns are always loved by our patients. We encourage groups to make blankets that are 1.5 yard x 1.5 yard or 2.5 yards x 1.5 yards.

Reading buddies

Get a group together to make reading buddies for our patients. Literacy resources, such as Reading Buddies, promote reading and are a much appreciated item for patients while they are in the hospital. These “buddies” allow kids to read aloud to someone to practice this critical skill.

Reading buddy materials

Materials needed:

GIVE NOW

Help us raise ’em up. Children’s Minnesota is building a better future for all kids — but we can’t do it without you. Please give today. So every child can reach their best health.

Bring joy to children in the hospital this holiday season

Children’s Minnesota's virtual toy drive ensures that each child receives the perfect gift. Help us create smiles, restock playrooms, and spread joy year-round.

Learn more
Donate now

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of donations makes the largest impact?

Your financial contributions to Children’s Minnesota make the greatest and most immediate impact on our patients and families. From providing excellent care and top-notch facilities, to continuing staff education and providing charity care, your dollars support the very programs and projects that make us Children’s Minnesota. Make your gift online today.

What's the most needed items right now in the hospital?

What items don't you accept?

Children’s Minnesota is unable to accept the following items

Out of concern for the safety, immunity and allergies of many of our patients, Children’s Minnesota is only able to accept new items with the tags still attached. We are unable to accept the following donations:

  • Toys
    • Used/previously played with items, toys, books, games or stuffed animals
    • Latex toys, games and balloons
    • Private collections of items, toys, books, games or stuffed animals that have never been played with but have been stored away
    • Full-sized sports equipment (soccer, basketballs, nets, etc.), bikes, skateboards, scooters
    • Toys that resemble weapons (swords, Nerf guns, water guns, violent action figures, etc.)
  • Other Items
    • Artwork
    • Cards, messages or letter for patients
    • Crib bumpers
    • Crocheted/knit items and blankets (except hats, mittens and scarves)
    • Donated hair for wigs
    • Flowers from weddings, funerals, or other outside events
    • Baby formula
    • Homemade food/treats (cookies, cupcakes, bars, etc.)
    • Used medical equipment
    • Wedding dresses for baptismal or burial gowns
    • Yoga, Zumba or other exercise classes

Can I mail in my donation?

Please complete the online form and mail in the donation.

Children’s Minnesota
c/o Children’s Minnesota Foundation
720 East 26th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Can I come with my kids or group to volunteer at the hospital?

Due to privacy and infection prevention concerns, we do not offer one-time volunteer opportunities.

My class or group would like to make cards for patients. Do you accept those?

Unfortunately, we do not accept any cards, letters or messages for patients.

Do you accept breast milk?

Children’s Minnesota receives all their donor human milk from the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies. Please reach out to them directly to be screened for milk donation. Once screening is complete there is a milk depot where you can drop off your milk at both the Mother Baby Center in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Dropping off items

Children’s Minnesota – Minneapolis
2525 Chicago Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-813-6000

Children’s Minnesota – St. Paul
345 N Smith Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-220-6000

Donations can be dropped off at the Welcome Centers at the locations above on the first or second floors, during these times:

  • Monday–Friday: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday–Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Look for the iPads at the Welcome Desk, complete the in-kind form on the iPad when you drop off your donation or complete the online form ahead of time. Parking in the visitor ramps is free for the first 20 minutes.

Have additional questions?

For information about supporting the mission of Children’s Minnesota by making a donation, please email [email protected] or call 952-992-5500.

Disclaimer: In-kind donations are directed to the Child and Family Services Program for equitable distribution to patients and families throughout Children’s Minnesota. If an in-kind gift is requested to be designated to a specific area of the hospital, please provide this detail in the space provided on the In-kind Donation Form. The Child Life Program will make its best effort to comply with the requested designation. Depending on many factors including, but not limited to, unit needs and the quality of the in-kind gift, Children’s Minnesota may not be able to meet the designation request for the in-kind donation and may, at its sole discretion, designate the in-kind donation to other areas of the hospital or provide the in-kind donation to other non-profit organization(s).

IP Disclaimer: The entire right, title, and interest throughout the world to all intellectual property, copyright, works, trademarks, and/or inventions and other materials or content, if any, that are conceived of, authored, created, prepared, procured, or generated, whether or not reduced to practice, for Children’s as the work product hereunder, either solely or jointly with others in connection with or as related to the performance hereunder are the sole and exclusive property of Children’s Minnesota and will be considered “works made for hire” under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, as amended, and shall be and hereby are vested and assigned to Children’s Minnesota and any and all documents prepared by Children’s Minnesota will be executed and agreement to do all other lawful acts as may be required by Children’s Minnesota to establish, document, and protect its rights as contemplated hereunder.