Welcome to Holiday Giving 2023
We are pleased to invite your support for our Holiday Giving 2023 partner: the PROP Shop of Eden Prairie. Holiday Giving 2023 aims to keep the PROP Shop shelves full for these needy families. Here are the ways that you can contribute:
In-kind Donations:
New and gently used items from the ‘most needed items’ list will provide immediate assistance for families. Donate right to the PROP Shop drive up. More info.
Financial Donations:
Contribute to the purchase of needed items, PROP Shop’s Buy-a-Bed program, or capital improvements at the PROP Shop building. Thanks to the generous pledges of a St. Andrew family for $10,000 and the St. Andrew Benevolence Fund for $5,000, the first $15,000 given will be doubled. More info.
Service Projects:
Participate in build-a-dresser or fleece tie blanket events. Thank you for joining together to support the PROP Shop’s important work in our community. Together, the love of Christ is poured out to people in need. More info.
In-kind Donations
A backbone of the PROP Shop is the donations received from the community through the drive-up at The PROP Shop location at 15195 Martin Drive in Eden Prairie. Items are sorted and stock the shelves at Family Services. Let’s keep the shelves stocked!
- New items: PROP Shop receives new items purchased off the most-needed-items list. Due to space limitations, please refrain from donating toys.
- Gently used items: The PROP Shop also receives gently used items for its programs. Please follow the PROP Shops guidelines for gently used items by consulting their website (www.propshopep.org).
Donations can also be dropped off at St. Andrew Lutheran Church directly into the PROP Shop van on Sundays, December 3rd and 10th.
Financial Donations
Support the PROP Shop by making a financial donation to Holiday Giving. Thanks to the generous pledges of a St. Andrew family for $10,000 and the St. Andrew Benevolence Fund for $5,000, the first $15,000 given will be doubled. Donations can be made online or in person with cash or check.
- Buy-a-Bed: one common item needed by many clients are new beds for their families. Donations can be made to cover the cost of the purchase of a bed that is dropped off at a client home. Our goal is to provide 15 beds per month (90 beds total) through May 2024.
- Queen: $250
- Double: $200
- Single: $150
- Capital Needs at the PROP Shop: The PROP Shop has identified several capital needs for the organization. These include a new roof and insulation, ($14,000), Family Services computer ($1,500), shipping container ($8,000), and updated HVAC venting ($2,700).
- General Contributions: These donations to Holiday Giving will be designated by the Holiday Giving Planning Committee into the most needed areas at the PROP Shop.
Service Projects
- Build-A-Dresser Project: One of the items PROP Shop clients value are basic bedroom dressers. Holiday Giving proceeds will be used to purchase unassembled dressers for PROP Shop clients. Sign up to build dressers at the PROP Shop with your family on Sunday, December 3rd from 1:00–3:00 PM or Saturday, December 9th from 10:00 AM–noon.
- Fleece Tie Blanket Project: Who does not love a colorful and fleecy-warm blanket in the wintertime?! This is a popular item at the PROP Shop. Gather with family and friends at the Fleece Tie Blanket Station in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings, beginning November 29. This is your chance to tie a few knots alongside other volunteers. It is a great family activity, too. If you have any questions about this project, please contact Candi Dolan.
Introducing The PROP Shop—Family Services Program
Since its inception in 2007, the PROP Shop is known widely as a place for community members to donate household items. But, the PROP Shop is more than this. Through its Family Services program, it has provided valuable and free assistance for over 3,400 needy families seeking basic items for their household. This includes 170,205 bags of clothing, kitchen, and other items including 3,088 beds. Today, there are 700 active families seeking repeated assistance for their homes.
The main mission of the PROP Shop focuses on the needs of individuals and families of the community. Each weekday, 8–10 families make an appointment to visit the PROP Shop. They are:
- Mothers with children in transition after a financially devastating divorce looking for additional school clothing or winter coats.
- Refugees new to the area looking for basic items to help set up their new homes.
- Community members on fixed incomes who have limited ability to get new sheets on their bed or towels to make their life more comfortable.
The Family Services warehouse contains shelves of regular household items and clothing for any typical family. Each client family chooses items within the Family Services warehouse at The PROP Shop, receiving needed items for free. Items not given away to clients are sold in the PROP Shop’s thrift store. All proceeds support the programs of the PROP Shop.
Learning Event—Meet the PROP Shop
Title: Meet the PROP Shop’s Cindy Eddy and Vicki Bomben
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 6th at 6:30 PM
Description: The PROP Shop has been helping people with household items since 2007. Who founded the program? How is it related to the PROP Food Shelf? What are some powerful stories about how the program benefits others? How do volunteers support the organization’s ongoing work? Join Pastor Peter Johnson as Cindy Eddy (Executive Director) and Vicki Bomben (Operations Manager) come together for a public dialogue about the organization, their programs, and the partnership with St. Andrew Lutheran Church.
PROP SHOP Drives: 2024
Due to the ongoing needs of PROP Shop clients, Holiday Giving 2023 intends to remain actively partnered with PROP Shop through May 2024. Stand by for upcoming monthly PROP Shop Drives in 2024 as we continue to keep the PROP Shop shelves full and care for our neighbors in need.