Winter Gear Drive

Winter Gear Drive 2024

The Winter Gear Drive at United Way of Freeborn County benefits those families in our community who meet the income eligibility requirements below.  If you do not qualify for our program based on your income, please contact 211 for other resources for which you may qualify.

Income eligibility for families to participate in this Winter Gear Drive distribution event.

To better serve our clients, the Winter Gear Drive Distribution Events will be by appointment.  To set up an appointment for one of our distribution dates, please click on the "Get Winter Gear" section below and click a date to view the available appointments.

Plymouth Shoe Store

129 S. Broadway Ave.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Trinity Lutheran Church

501 S. Washington Ave.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

First Lutheran Church

140 3rd Avenue SW

Glenville, MN 56036

 

Hubbard Agency

1643 W. Main St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Electric Beach Tanning Salon

2412 Bridge Ave.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Shoe Sensation

2339 Leland Dr.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

10,000 Custom Designs

32439 775th Ave.

Ellendale, MN 56007

 

Arcadian Bank

1452 W. Main St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Arcadian Bank

601 N. Broadway

Hartland, MN

 

Alpha Orthodontics

1651 W. Main St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

United Preschool

702 Highway 69 South

Albert Lea, MN 56007

Robert Hoffman Realty

223 E. William Street

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Cento Wood-Fire Pizzeria and Café

201 S. Broadway Avenue

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative

3366 Bridge Avenue

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Children’s Place

605 James Avenue

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

St. John’s – Fountain Lake Campus

1861 Eagle View Circle

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

St. John’s – Luther Place Campus

901 Luther Place

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Hy-Vee

2708 Bridge Ave.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

The YMCA

2021 W. Main St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

St. Theodore’s 

315 E. Clark St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Mayo Clinic Health Systems   

404 W. Fountain St.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

 

Accentra Credit Union

1619 Blake Ave.

Albert Lea, MN 56007

Please note: In the event of inclement weather, the Winter Gear Drive Distribution Events may be postponed or cancelled.  In the event of a cancellation, we will post on the KAALTV website and our Facebook page.  

 

Due to the number of clients who need to access the Winter Gear Drive Distribution Events, we ask that you only shop for the individuals in your household, so that efforts to shop for winter gear for your loved ones are not being duplicated.

Debido a la cantidad de clientes que necesitan acceder a los eventos de distribución de artículos de invierno, le pedimos que solo compre para las personas de su hogar, para que no se dupliquen los esfuerzos de comprar artículos de invierno para sus seres queridos.

Providing warm clothing as protection from the elements is a basic need.

 

United way of Freeborn County has hosted a Winter Gear Drive on an annual basis for several years. The program originated with the Freeborn County Multi-Disciplinary Team to provide winter gear to children only. In 2019, the Winter Gear Drive significantly expanded its model to provide coats for all community members in need. The resulting current model is a two-pronged approach to ensure the greatest impact on our community.

 

Approach 1: United Way staff work directly with school social workers and other area human service providers. Staff will deliver coats directly to the school or agency requesting the items, often filling a need before the person in need leaves for the day. This service is available year-round but ramps up in September and October as school staff get to know students and their needs. 

 

Approach 2: Community distribution dates are open several dates between the months of October-December. Community members are invited to shop for themselves and their families, giving the opportunity to have dignity and empowerment of choice. 

Are you a social worker or human service provider and have a family you'd like to refer to us?  For a direct referral, please click here and fill out the form.  One of our staff members will contact you as soon as possible regarding your request.  If you need to reach somebody immediately, please call our office at 507-373-8670, or to access other resources, call the United Way's 211 line.  Thank you!