365 Match Campaign
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365 Match Campaign ✩
Make a difference
Homelessness is not a choice, it’s a challenge.
And together, we can meet it.
Homelessness doesn’t end when winter does. For years, Connections Shelter has operated as a seasonal shelter, providing safety, meals, and support from October through May. But when the shelter season ends, many of the neighbors we serve lose the stability they’ve been working toward.
This year, we’re committed to change that. We are launching a campaign to expand Connections to a 12-month, year-round shelter, adding four critical summer months of shelter and services. By keeping the shelter open all year, we can provide uninterrupted case management, housing support, and a safe place for our neighbors every single month.
Our goal: Raise $200,000 in new and increased support to make year-round shelter a reality. Thanks to generous early donors, the first $35,000 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling the impact of every gift. Additional challenge matches may be unlocked as the campaign grows, amplifying your generosity even further.
Your support helps ensure that:
The shelter is open every month of the year
Guests have uninterrupted access to systems navigation and housing assistance
No one loses a safe place to stay simply because the season changes
Because you already believe in this mission, we invite you to help lead the way. Every new or increased gift brings us closer to a year-round shelter where stability, safety, and hope are available all year long.
Give today and double your impact. Because no matter the season, at Connections, hope starts here.
Help us keep shelter open 365 days a year!
Why Your Help Matters
Homelessness is a pressing issue in our society, affecting individuals and families across every demographic. In Mankato, the number of unhoused individuals has increased in recent years, exacerbated by current economic challenges, a lack of affordable housing, and increasing difficulties in accessing mental healthcare. Many of our guests are victims of circumstances beyond their control, including job loss, domestic violence, or mental health struggles. They arrive at our doors seeking not only shelter, but a change to rebuild their lives.
Connections offers more than a bed. We provide:
Emergency shelter for up to 48 individuals and families each night
Systems navigation services, to support long-term stability
Meals, hygiene items, clothing and other basic needs
Collaborative partnerships with other local organizations to ensure holistic care of the entire person, and not just the circumstance
Ongoing support and education to help prevent chronic homelessness
Another way to support the work of Connections is with in-kind donations. We are always accepting donations of prepackaged snacks, bottled water, sports /electrolyte drinks, hygiene supplies, new or gently used clothing and many other items that our guests need.
You can access our current Amazon wish list here for more ideas, and a few of our most needed and used items are linked directly below. We appreciate your support as we head into the harsh winter months.
