Blaine Police Partner with HOPE 4 Youth for Third Annual ‘Out of the Cold’ Drive to Combat Youth Homelessness

BLAINE, MN — As freezing temperatures descend on Minnesota, the Blaine Police Department is once again teaming up with the local nonprofit HOPE 4 Youth for the third annual “Out of the Cold” event, a community-wide drive designed to raise awareness and collect essential supplies for young people experiencing homelessness across Anoka County and the northern Twin Cities metro area.

A Community United to Support Homeless Youth

The event will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Tom Ryan Park Pavilion in Blaine. Attendees are encouraged to stop by with donations of food, hygiene products, or diapers—and enjoy complimentary hot apple cider or cocoa while supporting a life-changing cause.

This initiative underscores a sobering reality: according to Wilder Research, an estimated 13,300 youth in Minnesota experience homelessness each year, with more than 6,000 lacking a safe place to sleep on any given night.

Youth homelessness remains one of the state’s most urgent yet least visible crises. Many affected young people—ages 16 to 24—are forced to couch-hop, sleep in cars, or stay in unstable living conditions. The Blaine Police Department’s partnership with HOPE 4 Youth reflects a broader community effort to make sure these young Minnesotans are not left out in the cold this winter.

What HOPE 4 Youth Does

Founded in 2013, HOPE 4 Youth provides pathways to end youth homelessness through immediate support and long-term solutions. The nonprofit operates a Drop-In Center in Anoka, where young people can access food, hygiene items, clothing, showers, laundry facilities, and case management services. Staff and volunteers help connect youth with housing, employment, education, and healthcare resources.
More information about HOPE 4 Youth’s programs is available at hope4youthmn.org.

“When we meet a young person’s basic needs, we give them a foundation to thrive,” notes the organization’s mission statement. “Every warm meal, every item donated, and every act of kindness brings hope.”

Event and Donation Details

Community members are invited to donate items or funds at any of the following three official “Out of the Cold” drop-off sites:

1. Blaine Police Department Drop Site (Main Event)
Tom Ryan Park Pavilion, Blaine, MN
Thursday, November 20, 2025 — 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Top-needed items: Food, hygiene items, diapers

2. HOPE 4 Youth Drop-In Center (Anoka Youth Center)
2665 4th Ave #40, Anoka, MN 55303

3. Anoka County Sheriff’s Office
13301 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304

Each site will collect non-perishable food, hygiene products, diapers, and monetary donations. HOPE 4 Youth also notes consistent needs for gas cards, single-serve food items, and travel-sized hygiene supplies to support youth who visit their Drop-In Center throughout the year.

How to Give Online

For those unable to attend in person, donations can be made securely online via HOPE 4 Youth’s website at www.hope4youthmn.org/out-of-the-cold-landing-page.

A Season of Giving and Hope

As the holidays approach, “Out of the Cold” offers a chance for Blaine residents and surrounding communities to turn compassion into action. The Blaine Police Department’s involvement exemplifies a growing local commitment to community policing and social responsibility—bringing together law enforcement, nonprofits, and residents in service of a shared goal: ensuring no young person faces winter without warmth, safety, or hope.

MinneapoliMedia