Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays MN

06/25/2026

Sharing to KEEP CURRENT. We delivered some groceries yesterday with some trash bags, laundry soap and more. We also delivered some bed bug supplies but we need more !!!!!!!! The bed bug infestation in this single mom's home was caused by a mattress that was donated to them through someone at a local church. The church is not helping and it is not a church this mom attends.

She is living a nightmare right now. Please share if you can and if you're able to donate, instructions are below. 💞

💙 THIS WEEKEND'S FAMILY 💙

This weekend, we are focusing on helping a young mother who is doing everything she can to keep her little family together after surviving domestic violence.

She is raising three children on her own:
Daughter, age 4 (special needs) Son, age 2
Newborn daughter, just 3 weeks old.

The children's father is currently incarcerated following domestic violence charges and violations of a DANCO (Domestic Abuse No Contact Order).

For those unfamiliar, a DANCO is a court order issued to protect victims of domestic violence by prohibiting an offender from contacting or coming near the victim. In this case, the order was issued after repeated abuse escalated to the point that this mother was hospitalized for over a week with serious injuries.

Because of the severity of those injuries, additional charges were pursued by the State.

Like many survivors, she endured the abuse quietly for years.

Today, she is safe.

But safe does not mean life suddenly becomes easy.

While she works through some complicated county assistance issues and paperwork delays, she is trying to stay afloat on her own. She used her savings to pay rent through August, ensuring her children would have a roof over their heads. Unfortunately, that has now depleted the financial cushion she worked so hard to build.

She is educated, responsible, and eager to return to work. Right now she's navigating life with a newborn, arranging daycare, attending medical follow-up appointments, participating in counseling, caring for a special needs child, and trying to rebuild after trauma.

Mama is exhausted.

And yet she keeps showing up every day.

This weekend we are collecting:
Diapers Size 1

Baby wipes

Kid-friendly foods

Pantry items

Household necessities

Pet food and pet supplies

Gas cards for medical and counseling appointments

Target and Walmart e-gift cards may be sent to:
[email protected]

We also accept donations through our Program Venmo, which allows us to purchase fresh items before delivery including:

🥩 Meat 🥛 Milk 🧀 Dairy products 🥬 Fresh vegetables 🍎 Fruit
🧊 Frozen foods

As always, every dollar helps. Every package helps. Every gift card helps.

Most importantly, every act of kindness reminds a survivor that she is not alone.

This family doesn't need rescuing. This mama is already doing the hard work.

She simply needs a community willing to help carry a small piece of the weight while she gets back on her feet.

Thank you for continuing to show what Minnesota communities can do when they come together. 💞

If ordering PERISHABLE groceries please don't have them delivered until Sunday morning, no later than 11 am ~ which is when we will be delivering 💞

Bethany Nelson-Lieser
[email protected]
612-384-6318

4875 Drake Circle
Big Lake, MN
55309

Venmo Link:

https://www.venmo.com/u/AdoptaFamilyForTheHolidays-MN

06/24/2026

💜 Let's help a hardworking mama stay in her home. 💜

One of the things I admire most about this single mom is that she simply refuses to quit.

She has a beautiful 12 year old daughter and lives with significant health challenges that make it impossible for her to work outside the home. Instead of giving up, she's doing what so many creative souls do. She's writing, creating art, crafting, and pouring her heart into handmade projects in hopes of making enough to cover this month's rent.

She's currently selling these adorable craft card kits. If you're looking for a fun activity, a thoughtful gift, or simply a way to support someone who is working incredibly hard despite difficult circumstances, please consider purchasing one.

Every order helps. Every share helps. Every encouraging comment reminds someone they're not facing life's storms alone.
Thank you for supporting artists, makers, and determined moms who keep finding a way forward, one day at a time. 💞

Purchase here: Craft Card Kits

https://ko-fi.com/s/0ffabf621f

Sometimes the greatest act of kindness isn't charity. It's choosing to buy something made with hope.

💞💞

06/24/2026

🚨 Weekend Family Update 🚨

This weekend we are delivering to a young mother and her three children:

Daughter, age 4 (special needs)
Son, age 2
Newborn daughter, 3 weeks old

Many of you have already stepped up with grocery orders, pet food, diapers, and other essentials. We are incredibly grateful.

Unfortunately, this week brought an unexpected setback. 💥😭
After receiving a donated mattress (NOT through our program, our volunteers, or anyone connected to our organization), this mama discovered BED BUGS in her home.
The mattress has been disposed of. She has sealed off the bedroom, and currently the entire family is sleeping in the living room while she tries to prevent the issue from spreading.

She has not seen evidence of bed bugs in other areas of the home, and she's working hard to address the situation immediately. As you can imagine, discovering bed bugs while caring for a newborn, a toddler, and a special-needs preschooler has been overwhelming.

🚨 PRIORITY NEED 🚨
Bed Bug Spray
Bed Bug Treatment Products
Mattress Encasements
Pillow Encasements
Laundry Detergent
Large Trash Bags
Cleaning Supplies

She cannot currently afford professional extermination, so any assistance with treatment supplies would be greatly appreciated.

We do have someone donating dog and cat food, and a few grocery orders have already been placed. Thank you!

This mama wanted me to share something important:
She felt awkward putting together a wish list because she truly has no expectations. Her family has utilized food shelves in the past, and she knows firsthand that help is never guaranteed. She wants everyone to know that she is grateful for absolutely anything. Name brands are appreciated but not expected.

She mentioned that her baby does best in Honest Brand diapers due to sensitive skin, but she also shared that when the food shelf provides other brands, she gladly uses them and simply applies a little extra Desitin.

The following list is simply meant to provide ideas for those who have asked what would be helpful:

Size 2 Diapers (Honest Brand if possible)
Baby Wipes
Desitin
Ge**er Lil' Crunchies
Ge**er Yogurt Melts
Ge**er Rice Cereal (son eats)
GoGurt Yogurt Tubes
Quaker Instant Oatmeal (any flavor)
Eggo Waffles
Chicken in a Biskit Crackers
String Cheese
Bananas
Mandarin Oranges or other canned fruit
Mac & Cheese
Ramen
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Hot Dogs/Brats
Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Kid cereal
Cheez-Its
Chicken Nuggets
Totino's Pizza Rolls
Frozen Pizza
Hamburger Helper
Ravioli
Beefaroni

Milk
Eggs
Bread
Bananas
Grapes
Melons
Berries
Strawberries
Oranges
Cheese Slices or Shredded Cheese
Ground Beef

Capri Sun
Honest Kids Juice Boxes (or similar)
Apple Juice
Milk/Chocolate Milk
Pedialyte

Easy to Make Things For Rough Nights
Rotisserie Chicken
Frozen Lasagna
Frozen Pizza
Stouffer's Mac & Cheese
Frozen Vegetables
Ready Rice Packets
Pasta & Jarred Sauce

As always, many of our deliveries come together one item at a time.
One extra box of cereal. One extra jar of peanut butter. One package of diapers. One frozen meal.
That's often all it takes when a community decides to carry one another through a difficult season.

Thank you for helping us remind this mama that she and her children are not facing this alone. 🫂

Bethany Nelson-Lieser
Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays MN
[email protected]
612-384-6318

06/23/2026

💙 THIS WEEKEND'S FAMILY 💙

This weekend, we are focusing on helping a young mother who is doing everything she can to keep her little family together after surviving domestic violence.

She is raising three children on her own:
Daughter, age 4 (special needs) Son, age 2
Newborn daughter, just 3 weeks old.

The children's father is currently incarcerated following domestic violence charges and violations of a DANCO (Domestic Abuse No Contact Order).

For those unfamiliar, a DANCO is a court order issued to protect victims of domestic violence by prohibiting an offender from contacting or coming near the victim. In this case, the order was issued after repeated abuse escalated to the point that this mother was hospitalized for over a week with serious injuries.

Because of the severity of those injuries, additional charges were pursued by the State.

Like many survivors, she endured the abuse quietly for years.

Today, she is safe.

But safe does not mean life suddenly becomes easy.

While she works through some complicated county assistance issues and paperwork delays, she is trying to stay afloat on her own. She used her savings to pay rent through August, ensuring her children would have a roof over their heads. Unfortunately, that has now depleted the financial cushion she worked so hard to build.

She is educated, responsible, and eager to return to work. Right now she's navigating life with a newborn, arranging daycare, attending medical follow-up appointments, participating in counseling, caring for a special needs child, and trying to rebuild after trauma.

Mama is exhausted.

And yet she keeps showing up every day.

This weekend we are collecting:
Diapers Size 1

Baby wipes

Kid-friendly foods

Pantry items

Household necessities

Pet food and pet supplies

Gas cards for medical and counseling appointments

Target and Walmart e-gift cards may be sent to:
[email protected]

We also accept donations through our Program Venmo, which allows us to purchase fresh items before delivery including:

🥩 Meat 🥛 Milk 🧀 Dairy products 🥬 Fresh vegetables 🍎 Fruit
🧊 Frozen foods

As always, every dollar helps. Every package helps. Every gift card helps.

Most importantly, every act of kindness reminds a survivor that she is not alone.

This family doesn't need rescuing. This mama is already doing the hard work.

She simply needs a community willing to help carry a small piece of the weight while she gets back on her feet.

Thank you for continuing to show what Minnesota communities can do when they come together. 💞

If ordering PERISHABLE groceries please don't have them delivered until Sunday morning, no later than 11 am ~ which is when we will be delivering 💞

Bethany Nelson-Lieser
[email protected]
612-384-6318

4875 Drake Circle
Big Lake, MN
55309

Venmo Link:

https://www.venmo.com/u/AdoptaFamilyForTheHolidays-MN

06/21/2026

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who helped support the family of 10 this weekend !!! Not everything is pictured - but here is some of their haul. Everything was met with heartfelt gratitude 💞 Not pictured - diapers, wipes, toilet paper, paper towels and more!

06/18/2026

SATURDAY DELIVERY REQUEST
🛒🥑🥗🥞🥔🥕🥓🥙🫘🫜🍳🍚🍠🍞🍓🥪 🥣🥦🥥🍝🍠🌭🥫

This Saturday, our GOAL is to deliver groceries, household essentials, hygiene items, and diapers to a local family of 10.

This hardworking *blended* family includes a single mother, six children, and elderly family members living in the home. Right now, they are navigating an incredibly difficult season while remaining committed to caring for one another.

The family is currently in isolation and could use our community's support.

Needed items include:
Diapers (Size 3)
Baby Wipes
Non-Perishable Foods
Fresh / Perishable Groceries - milk, fruit, vegetables, meat
Hygiene & Household Essentials

For those who would like to help financially:
E-Target or E-Walmart Gift Cards may be sent for shopping: [email protected]

Venmo contributions are also welcome and will be used to purchase fresh foods and perishable grocery items for the family.

The children's uncle, who helped support the household, is currently being detained out of state due to an ongoing immigration matter. We want to be very clear: this family has NO criminal history, NO violence, NO substance abuse issues, and NO legal concerns beyond the current immigration proceedings. They are hardworking, sober, contributing members of our community who are doing everything they can to care for their loved ones during an incredibly stressful and uncertain time.

As always, we ask that comments remain kind and respectful. Our focus is, and always has been, ensuring that children, elders, and families have food on their tables and basic necessities in their homes.

Thank you for continuing to show what Minnesota community looks like. Every diaper, every can of food, every dollar, and every act of kindness matters more than you know. 💞 🫂

Bethany Nelson-Lieser
[email protected]
612-384-6318

If sending a Target or Walmart delivery please send perishables *only* on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

4875 Drake Circle
Big Lake, MN
55309

https://www.venmo.com/u/AdoptaFamilyForTheHolidays-MN

06/15/2026

Thank You, Friends. 💞

This weekend's deliveries may have only been for a couple of local families, but to those families, the impact was anything but small.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who sent grocery delivery orders, dropped off food donations, shared encouragement, and helped make these deliveries possible.

As many of you know, I was hospitalized last week and had just been discharged. Because of that, Brian handled Sunday's deliveries on his own before turning around and coming to pick me up.

The food donations that arrived at our door were an enormous help to him. He didn't have to shop. He only had to sort and deliver. They saved time, reduced stress, and allowed Brian to focus on what mattered most: getting groceries and essentials into the hands of families who truly needed them.

The two moms we focused on this weekend were incredibly grateful.

For both families, opening their refrigerators and seeing food inside wasn't just practical help. It was relief. It was one less thing to worry about. It was a reminder that people care.

Sometimes it can feel like helping one family or two families at a time isn't enough. But when you're the person wondering how you'll make it through the week, that support can mean everything.

Every grocery bag matters.
Every meal matters.
Every kind message matters.

Whether you sent a full grocery order, dropped off a few pantry items, donated, or simply shared our posts, you became part of something bigger than any one person. You became part of a community coming together to lighten the load for a neighbor.

That has always been what this project is about. 💞 🫂

We are incredibly proud of the community we call home. The kindness, generosity, and willingness to show up for complete strangers continues to amaze us ~ week after week, year after year.

Thank you for helping Brian make these deliveries possible.
Thank you for helping these families breathe a little easier.
And thank you for proving once again that "Minnesota Nice" is more than just a phrase. It's something we get to witness in action every single week.

With gratitude,

Bethany & Brian 💞

06/12/2026

Update. Families Were Taken Care Of

Good Morning Friends!
This weekend we will be delivering groceries, household essentials, and hygiene items to two local families in the Princeton area.

The first family is a hardworking single mom raising two little ones, ages 3 and 4. Like so many families, she was doing her best to stay afloat until an unexpected car repair created a financial setback. After paying for the repair, there simply wasn't much left for groceries.

The second family is a brave mom and her three teenage children who recently escaped an abusive domestic violence situation. They are working to rebuild their lives, create stability, and find peace after a very difficult chapter. Right now, they would be grateful for some groceries in the refrigerator and basic hygiene items to help them get through the coming weeks.

While I am usually part of our deliveries, I am currently at North Memorial Hospital receiving treatment for a GI.bleed and am not feeling my best. Brian will be handling deliveries, and thankfully he has done this many times before and always takes wonderful care of the families we serve.

As always, thank you for making these deliveries possible. Every gallon of milk, every loaf of bread, every package of toilet paper, every bottle of shampoo, and every act of kindness reminds these families that they are not facing life's challenges alone.

If you would like to help, donations of groceries, hygiene items, household essentials, or financial contributions toward food purchases are always appreciated.
Thank you for continuing to stand beside local families when they need it most.

As always if you are sending drop off order of fresh produce or meats etc please schedule it for Sunday morning so that we just have a quick turnaround time.

Bethany Nelson-Lieser
4875 Drake Circle
Big Lake, MN 55309

https://www.venmo.com/u/AdoptaFamilyForTheHolidays-MN

05/27/2026

A special thank-you to Brendan J for creating our new Adopt-A-Family For The Holidays MN website !!! This will help make our application, sponsorship, donation, volunteer, and referral process so much easier, while keeping family privacy and dignity first.

On top of website and software development, Brendan also runs:

Rebooked
https://rebooked.org

Regsguard
https://regsguard.rebooked.org

He has also offered to donate 25% of proceeds from those projects back to Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays MN. That's a huge Blessing!!!

Thank you, Brendan, for using your time and talents to support our mission of neighbors helping neighbors.

Bethany Nelson-Lieser
[email protected]
612-384-6318

https://adoptafamilyfortheholidaysmn.org

Rebooked helps service businesses follow up with old leads, missed calls, inactive customers, no-shows, and unbooked estimates so more revenue comes back without extra manual work.

05/24/2026

MEMORIAL DAY UPDATES !! 💞

Over the weekend, we were able to meet with our Minnesota highlighted Mom of the Month a couple of different times, and thanks to this community, we were able to bring groceries ~ both perishables, non-perishables, fresh fruits and vegetables, snacks, and hygiene items directly to her family.

Every single item received was donated. Every dollar given toward rent has gone directly to this grieving mom. And we are incredibly grateful. 🫶🏼

Right now, we are still approximately $650 short of the $1,375 rent goal for June. (As of 6/25)

This grieving mom is doing everything she can for her family.
She is working TWO full-time jobs while navigating unimaginable grief after the loss of her teenage son in April following a long struggle with mental health.

One of her jobs is completely commission-based, meaning income can fluctuate wildly and often arrives weeks later. Her second position is very new and pays minimum wage.

And still... she keeps going.
She has four remaining children depending on her. School is ending. Summer is beginning. Counseling appointments continue. Bills continue. Life continues.

And if we're being honest? She is exhausted.
Not lazy. Not unwilling. Not looking for a handout without working hard herself.

Just deeply tired in the way grief settles into a person's bones while the world keeps demanding more from them anyway.

She has been incredibly thankful for every meal, every snack for the kids, every package of hygiene items, every kind message, every prayer, and every person who has shown up for her family.

We had extra food to share this weekend, and being able to bless her with those extras mattered more than you know.

Thank you for reminding people they are not alone in the hardest seasons of their lives.

If anyone would still like to help us close the remaining gap toward June rent or help with their other needs, please send a private message, email or see links below.

Love really does look like groceries on a counter. Gas in a car. A paid utility bill. Fresh fruit in the fridge. And one less thing for a grieving mother to carry alone.

Continually Upwards,

Bethany Nelson-Lieser
[email protected]
612-384-6318

*If sending an e-Walmart or e-Target gift card:
[email protected]

*If sending a delivery order
Bethany Nelson Lieser
4875 Drake Circle
Big Lake, MN
55309

If contributing to June rent (she knows she will be self-sufficient for July and will be able to pay all rent & bills moving forward. She's so grateful for the breathing room she's been gifted. Thank you) 💞

https://www.venmo.com/u/AdoptaFamilyForTheHolidays-MN

We also have pay pal 🫂