Justin Morneau needs your help: Donate coats, meet him
Roseville, Minn. – For the seventh year in a row, former Minnesota Twins All-Star Justin Morneau is collecting coats for The Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center. But donations are running behind last year’s, and he needs your help to meet the goal of 1,500 coats, by Saturday, Nov. 28.
So far, fans have donated about 1,000 coats for homeless men and women. If you donate at least three coats to his Winter Warm-up Coat Drive, you will have a chance to meet him in person at Fan HQ at Ridgedale on Nov. 28.
“Oh I have been a fan of Justin’s forever and ever,” said Dele Simenstad, who has already collected over 200 coats for this year’s drive. “It’s just so heart-warming to know that he and his wife Krista continue to support people who need help in the Twin Cities.”
Simenstad owns Sunshine Travel in Coon Rapids and she says her clients have also pitched in to donate. Last year she collected 60 coats, but this year, she started in June and has been amazed at the outpouring of support.
“Some people have really donated a lot of nice coats, leather coats, heavy winter coats,” she said. Simenstad says in addition to being a fan of Morneau’s, it just feels good to give back. “Anyone who is capable of donating should help those who need it.”
It’s fans like Simenstad who make the coat drive such a great success.
“Dele’s support of the coat drive has always been appreciated but this year she’s really outdone herself,” said Justin Morneau . “It’s great to know that hundreds of people will be able to stay warm this winter because of her efforts and I look forward to personally thanking her at our meet and greet on November 28th.”
You can donate adult-sized, winter coats at Fan HQ at Ridgedale, now through Nov. 28. If you donate one coat, you will receive a signed 8 x 10 photo of Justin Morneau. If you donate three coats, you will receive an autographed ticket to meet him in person at the event on Saturday, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. (333 of these tickets available). The first 33 people to donate 33 coats will receive an MVP ticket to meet Justin in person at the event, plus you will go home with one autograph, one inscription and a posed photo with him.
You can also donate $33 online to purchase a new coat.
“We are so grateful to the Morneau’s for their continued efforts with this coat drive,” said Major Jeff Strickler, Twin Cities commander. “Every year they help put coats on hundreds of homeless people. Our staff at The Harbor Light Center give them out, as quickly as they come in.”
About The Twin Cities Salvation Army
The Twin Cities Salvation Army serves more than 218,000 people a year through its local centers of operation, including 15 housing and shelter facilities and eight food shelves. Daily it serves nearly 1,400 hot meals and shelters more than 1,000 people. More than 26,600 local volunteers help The Salvation Army provide these and other services, from child daycare to senior housing. Learn more about Salvation Army volunteer opportunities or make an online donation.