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Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays MN, Big Lake, MN (2025)

08/13/2025

🎄 Public Applications for DIRECT Holiday Sponsorships Open August 23rd! 🎄

We are so excited to announce that starting August 23rd, families can apply — and sponsors can begin selecting — for Direct Holiday Sponsorships.

As a Direct Sponsor, you’ll have the opportunity to choose a family whose needs and story resonate with yours. You’ll be able to read the children’s wish lists and decide which family fits your heart and your budget.

To keep the program accessible for all, we remind families that most sponsors typically provide gifts valued at approximately $20–$50 per child. Families are welcome to request a higher-value gift, but please remember that reasonable requests greatly increase the chances of being “adopted” by a sponsor.

This program is about connection, kindness, and the joy of knowing your generosity is making the holidays brighter for a family in our community. Whether it’s a cozy winter coat, a favorite toy, or a book that sparks a child’s imagination, every gift matters — and every act of giving leaves a lasting impact.

Bethany Nelson-Lieser

[email protected]

08/12/2025

End of Summer Newsletter - Looking Ahead To Fall 🌻🍁

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As summer winds down, I wanted to take a moment to reflect, share how some of the families you’ve helped are doing, and highlight our most urgent needs as the school year approaches.

Thanks to your generosity, both families we featured earlier this summer are now stable and thriving.
Because of your kindness, one family was able to secure permanent housing and the other overcame significant hardships to get back on their feet. These successes are a direct result of people in our community stepping up, believing in them, and offering the support they needed to move forward. Thank you again.

This season, our program has focused on meeting immediate, life-changing needs for families in crisis. While we wish we could help everyone, we prioritize those in the most urgent situations, offering what we can in a way that preserves dignity and hope.

In this issue, I’m shining a spotlight on two very special families in our Christmas Assistance program — the “Great Dane” family and the “Lakeside” family. Both have been working hard to overcome challenges, and both could use a little extra encouragement (and immediate help) as the new school year approaches. From school supplies to other essentials, there are simple ways to make a big difference right now. Please keep reading to learn more about their stories and how you can help.

❣️❣️ As support comes in, I will edit the needs lists below. ❣️❣️

🐾 The Great Dane Family

A single mom of three (ages 8, 12, and 15) recently left an abusive marriage and is now living in a domestic abuse shelter. Leaving was possible only after we secured a foster for their beloved Great Dane — she feared her husband might harm the dog in retaliation.

She left her husband because he is a functioning addict and alcoholic but is also extremely abusive both physically and verbally. She is in the process of filing a restraining order and the shelter is helping her with that process.

She’s returning to her job as a barista next week and actively searching for housing. Her kids can attend school from the shelter, but they need school supplies and clothing.

Immediate Needs:

Size 7/8 boys clothing (no elastic cuffs; prefers loose athletic pants, t-shirts, sweatshirts)

Men’s small winter jacket for her 8-year-old son

Clothing for her two older children, who are wise enough to understand the severity of the situation but also emotionally vulnerable to the scrutiny of children their own age - classmates and protecting their image as teenagers as they return to the new year.

School supplies for all three children

How to Help:

Drop-offs of clothing or supplies:

Nystrom & Associates outpatient clinic, 207 Jefferson Ave, Big Lake, MN (8–5 M–F; contact us for after-hours drop offs)

Venmo donations: Label “Great Dane Family”

Additionally, Target or Walmart e-gift cards for school supplies and clothing may be sent to our program email:

[email protected]

---

🚗 The Lakeside Family

A single mom of four (ages 7, 9, 10, and 12) is currently living in her SUV after leaving an abusive partner in June. She tells her kids they’ve been “car camping” for the summer, spending time at lakes and on nature walks to keep their spirits up.

She’s eager for school to start so her children can have stability and school meals—and so she can dedicate school hours to working. She has no savings left and is doing odd jobs through word of mouth. Her biggest obstacle right now is housing application fees, which add up quickly when searching for a place to rent. Once she is able to secure housing, she will apply for emergency assistance.

Immediate Needs:

Target or Walmart e-gift cards (sent to our program email for school clothing, hygiene items, and school supplies.

Venmo donations for housing application fees, hygiene items, meals and essentials (label “Lakeside Family”)

Gas cards

Non-perishable, ready-to-eat foods (no can opener needed)

Backpacks and school supplies

How to Help:

Drop-offs of non-perishables, backpacks, or gift cards:
Nystrom & Associates outpatient clinic, 207 Jefferson Ave, Big Lake, MN

If you call ahead or if you arrange a drop off with me beforehand, Brian Lieser, who is my husband and a counselor there can meet you face to face at the front desk. As he is often with clients, calling ahead, helps to time that out a bit better.

Venmo donations: Label “Lakeside Family”

🌟 Looking Ahead

While we no longer host a specific school supply drive as a whole, we’re already preparing for our busiest time of year - Christmas. Public applications for our 2025 Holiday Assistance Program open August 23rd, and we’re already working with current clients to ensure their holidays are filled with dignity and joy. This will be our 14th year of operation.

In the past, Brian and I have opened our home to families in crisis, but we’ve learned that to keep our program stable, we need our home to remain a place of rest and renewal. That allows us to keep “feeding others”—sometimes with groceries, sometimes with gift cards, and often with encouragement that keeps hope alive.

Every gift you give - whether it’s a winter coat, a gas card, or help with a housing application fee - plants a seed of hope that grows long after the crisis has passed. I know this because I was once a child who received that kindness, and I’ve carried it with me all my life.

Thank you all for being part of that ripple effect. 🫶🏼

Bethany & the Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays MN Team

The below chalk drawing is on the steps of Nystrom's Outpatient Clinic. Brian shared it with me this morning. Staff wasn't responsible, apparently - but it's a sweet sentiment by a Client, perhaps ❣️

08/12/2025

📌 Looking for a Mobile Notary Public – East Side St. Paul 📌

I’m hoping to connect with a mobile notary public who would be willing to waive their notary fees and meet with a struggling family on the East Side of Saint Paul.

They need assistance notarizing paperwork for a Safe at Home ID for their young adult daughter, who lives with severe anxiety and agoraphobia and is unable to travel.

This is a sensitive situation, so discretion is very important.
If you or someone you know is a mobile notary who can help, please message me directly. I can connect you with the family privately.

💙 Thank you for helping make safety and dignity possible for this family.

Bethany Nelson-Lieser

08/10/2025

Regarding income eligibility requirements - we follow Minnesota state poverty guidelines.

In Minnesota—as in all U.S. states—the official poverty income guidelines are the federal poverty guidelines (often called the FPG or FPL), published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These are used to assess eligibility for many assistance programs and do not vary by state (except for Alaska and Hawaii) .

2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines (48 contiguous states & D.C.)

According to HHS, the poverty thresholds for 2025 are:

Household Size Annual Income

1 person $15,650
2 persons $21,150
3 persons $26,650
4 persons $32,150
5 persons $37,650
6 persons $43,150
7 persons $48,650
8 persons $54,150
Additional people +$5,500 per extra person

---

Minnesota-Specific Context

While the federal guidelines are uniform, certain Minnesota programs may reference percentages of the FPL or use other benchmarks:

Energy Assistance Program (EAP) in Minnesota uses 50% of State Median Income (SMI) for households up to 18 people, and 110% of the FPG for households of 19–20 persons .

The Minnesota Department of Human Services also publishes a 200% FPG monthly guideline for benefit eligibility, including approximate monthly income caps such as:

1-person household: $2,608/month

2-person household: $3,525/month

3-person household: $4,442/month

4-person household: $5,358/month--

Federal Poverty Guidelines for Minnesota (2025): Use the values listed above (based on federal FPL).

State programs may use multiples of FPL (e.g., 200% FPL) or other criteria like State Median Income—especially for specific assistance such as energy aid.

08/10/2025

EXCITING NEWS!!!
Applications to the public open up on August 23rd. ❣️

HOW TO APPLY FOR **DIRECT** HOLIDAY SPONSORSHIP

Thank you for your interest in being sponsored for our 2025 Christmas season. This will be our 14th year of operation!!! We have one of the most successful holiday assistance programs in the state of Minnesota. I know this is a lot of information to read - Here we go! 🎄🦌

Applications work like this:

I will never ask you for social security numbers! I do not need, nor accept them, but what I do need is this -

1) Proof of Parentage. That means, a photo of the birth certificate for each child age 17 or younger.

2) A photo of your Minnesota driver's license or Minnesota state ID card.

**It's important to note that you must be the parent or the legal guardian of the child(ren) you are applying for. (Ex: You cannot apply on behalf of your niece, nephew, grandchildren, etc).

If you are the legal guardian, or foster parents, the guardianship paperwork must be provided.

3) Proof of address. That could be a utility bill in your name, a photo of post-dated mail, a shelter verification form, or a letter from the county if you are receiving county assistance.

4) Proof of income. We follow State poverty guidelines based on household size. Proof of income could be a pay stub - *cross out the social security number before sending!! It could also be County assistance paperwork, etc.

Remember we only help MINNESOTA families.

You can send those photos over messenger or to our email address

[email protected]

************
Once I receive that information I will ask for your name and phone number, your email address (if you have one), the first names and ages of each child, the city that you live in, a couple of gift ideas or toy requests for each child and their clothing sizes.

Each family will also receive a holiday meal gift card to their grocery store of choice so please tell me what store you most often shop at for groceries. The amount of that gift card is up to the sponsor to decide and will vary depending on the size of the family.

It is up to the sponsor to choose a family that works best for theirs. Help is not guaranteed! We encourage applying families to always apply with other organizations as a backup plan.

Please keep in mind when you are requesting gifts for your children that most sponsors spend $30 to $50 per child. Although there is NO maximum amount to gift, your odds of getting adopted are much better if your requests are not extravagant.

Please be patient as I process applications. It's only my husband and I processing applications and we each have full time jobs. My husband works as a counselor for Nystrom and Associates and I work in the restaurant industry.

Your family information will then be added to a list that will be emailed to potential sponsors. Again it is up to a sponsor to choose the family that works best for them - so it doesn't matter where you fall in on the list. Applications will be processed in the order they are received.

If a sponsor chooses your family I will then connect you DIRECTLY.

FAMILIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REQUEST EXTRA HELP FROM THEIR SPONSOR.

For example, you cannot ask for monetary assistance, help with car repairs, extra groceries, etc. DOING SO WILL GET YOU BANNED PERMANENTLY FROM THE PROGRAM.

We cross reference adopted families with other organizations. You are not allowed to receive help from our organization and then also receive help from another organization. We completely expect you to apply with other organizations, and if you are adopted through someone else you have to let us know.

We have these rules in place to protect our sponsors. We want this to be a safe environment and for our sponsors to feel appreciated and to not be taken advantage of.

Thank you for your interest in applying!!!

Bethany Nelson-Lieser

[email protected]
612-384-6318
**Text is usually best if you need an immediate or quick response!

06/12/2025

💛 URGENT UPDATE: Family 🅰️ Still Needs Our Help

Dear Friends and Supporters,

First, I want to extend my deepest thanks to everyone who has so graciously stepped forward over the past week. Your generosity and compassion continue to create real change for these families.

✨ Update on Family B:
Thanks to your incredible kindness, Family B has had most of their immediate needs met. A few hygiene items are still being gathered and will be delivered this weekend, but overall, mom is feeling relief and stability thanks to your help. She sends her love and heartfelt gratitude to each of you who lifted her up during such a difficult time. 🫶🏼

✨ Continued Need for Family A:
Our focus now returns to Family A, where help is still very much needed.

This courageous mother — a domestic violence survivor with 4 young children — is still about $900 short of securing stable housing for her family. She has exhausted all local assistance programs, contacted churches, and explored every possible resource, but because of eligibility restrictions, she is unable to receive any additional emergency aid.

The apartment she is working to secure is a safe, stable space that would allow her to continue moving forward independently while working full-time. She has fought tirelessly for her children while managing hospital visits for her medically fragile child, navigating legal matters, and keeping her family afloat — all without complaint.

👉 We are hoping to raise the remaining $900 to help secure this apartment and give this brave family a fresh start.

If you feel led to help, even the smallest contribution will make a tremendous difference and get her that much closer to stability and safety.

Please reference: "Family A" in your donation.

---

🎄 As always, we continue preparing for our 2025 Christmas Program, and applications will open in August. Details are in the original post for those looking ahead.

Your continued support means the world — not only to me as director, but to the families who feel seen, loved, and empowered because of this community.

With gratitude and love,
Bethany Nelson-Lieser
Director, Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays MN
612-384-6318

Venmo: -MN

📸 QR code available below in comments

06/12/2025

Updated, Thursday 6/12/25

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Community Members,

Some of you received this message via email. We thank you for your continued support of the program and continued support of families who are working so hard to better their lives and legacies. Updates are below.

We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the sunshine and longer days. While it may still be summer, we’re already preparing for Christmas 2025—and we have some important updates and two urgent family needs to share with you today.

---

❤️ Immediate Help Needed: Two Urgent Family Cases

Please don’t scroll past this part—your kindness could directly impact the lives of two local single mothers facing heartbreaking and courageous transitions.

---

🅰️ Family A – Single Mom of 4, Domestic Violence Survivor

This resilient mom of 4 children under the age of 10 made the brave decision to leave a long-term abusive relationship just weeks ago. She’s currently living in a one-bedroom apartment belonging to a friend, working full-time, and trying to secure stable housing.

Despite her efforts, she’s still $600 short of the deposit and first and last months rent, that are needed to move into a safe 2-bedroom apartment for her family. The total amount needed by her landlord was $3800. Shes done everything in her power to come up with the funds, but is still a little over $600 short.

To heighten the awareness of the severity of the situation, I'll share with you that one of her children remains hospitalized with a rare gastric condition requiring a feeding tube (similar to “frozen stomach,” often linked to gastroparesis). Mom is juggling work, hospital visits, and legal matters without breaking stride, and she’s determined to protect her children and prove her ability to care for them independently.

She’s already accessing resources for furniture and household items but needs our help to bridge the financial gap for housing.

👉 To help, please reference: “Family A” in your donation.

---

Family B is STABLE for now ❣️❣️ Mom sends her deepest appreciation to everyone who has helped. 🫶🏼 Any further help would go towards continued cost of diapers, formula and babysitting costs.

🅱️ Family B – Young Mother Healing from Assault

A second mother recently reached out in urgent need. She is the proud mom of an infant son and a 5-year-old daughter, recovering from a violent assault that left her with a broken jaw requiring surgery. Her jaw is wired shut for healing, and she has several medical appointments in the weeks ahead.

She works full-time for $17/hour and has done everything right—applying for emergency food assistance and maintaining her lease—but she’s now in crisis due to lost wages, babysitting costs (her abuser was previously the primary caregiver), and the sudden loss of her phone and utilities.

She needs:

Financial support to help cover babysitting costs

Funds for a pay-as-you-go cell phone ***phone HAS been purchased and minutes added.

Help paying utility bills now in her name **has been referred to an agency who is going to look at her request

Basic supplies: diapers, kids' hygiene items, household staples

👉 To help, please reference: “Family B” in your donation.

---

🎄 Looking Ahead: Christmas 2025 Updates

As we begin gearing up for our holiday efforts, we want to be transparent and thoughtful in adapting to the current economic challenges.

This year, we’re asking sponsors to consider:

Gifts under $50 per child

For larger families, gifts in the $30–$40 range per child can make adoption more likely

Gift cards toward bigger needs (like winter coats, beds, shoes) are welcome too — this gives families flexibility while still respecting sponsors' budgets.

We’re incredibly proud of the success of our program year after year, and we remain deeply committed to fairness, sustainability, and honoring our sponsors and the brave families who apply.

---

📝 Family Applications Open in August

If you or someone you know would benefit from our Christmas program, applications will be accepted starting in August 2025. More details to follow soon.

---

Thank you for being a part of this mission. Whether you’ve sponsored a family, shared a post, or simply held space for a struggling parent—you’re part of a beautiful community, and we’re so grateful for you.

With love and gratitude,

Bethany Nelson-Lieser

Director, Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays MN
612-384-6318

Venmo Donations Welcome!
Adopt-a-Family For The Holidays MN
-MN

📸 You can also scan the QR code below in the comments to donate directly:

06/12/2025

There is a Monticello family in desperate need of a bed.
Full size or larger.
I can connect you directly to the family. They are not a client family and you are able to talk with them and they are able to pick up the bed in person. ❣️

06/12/2025

Hi Friends! For those of you who are hoping to support a family directly versus a HIPAA privacy law protected family, I have a young single working mom with three boys who need supplies for day care and summer programming.

This is a mom who lives in Monticello and could have a Target pickup done in her name from the Monticello Target. Or you could send her an e-target gift card directly. I can connect you to talk with this person directly.

She's not a client, so we aren't accepting donations on her behalf directly - but I'm happy to connect you privately! ❣️

06/10/2025

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Community Members,

Some of you received this message via email last night. We thank you for your continued support of the program and continued support of families who are working so hard to better their lives and legacies.

We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the sunshine and longer days. While it may still be summer, we’re already preparing for Christmas 2025—and we have some important updates and two urgent family needs to share with you today.

---

❤️ Immediate Help Needed: Two Urgent Family Cases

Please don’t scroll past this part—your kindness could directly impact the lives of two local single mothers facing heartbreaking and courageous transitions.

---

🅰️ Family A – Single Mom of 4, Domestic Violence Survivor

This resilient mom of 4 children under the age of 10 made the brave decision to leave a long-term abusive relationship just weeks ago. She’s currently living in a one-bedroom apartment belonging to a friend, working full-time, and trying to secure stable housing.

Despite her efforts, she’s still $1412 short of the deposit and first and last months rent, that are needed to move into a safe 2-bedroom apartment for her family. The total amount needed by her landlord was $3800. Shes fine everything in her power to come up with the funds, but is still $1412 short.

To heighten the awareness of the severity of the situation, I'll share with you that one of her children remains hospitalized with a rare gastric condition requiring a feeding tube (similar to “frozen stomach,” often linked to gastroparesis). Mom is juggling work, hospital visits, and legal matters without breaking stride, and she’s determined to protect her children and prove her ability to care for them independently.

She’s already accessing resources for furniture and household items but needs our help to bridge the financial gap for housing.

👉 To help, please reference: “Family A” in your donation.

---

🅱️ Family B – Young Mother Healing from Assault

A second mother recently reached out in urgent need. She is the proud mom of an infant son and a 5-year-old daughter, recovering from a violent assault that left her with a broken jaw requiring surgery. Her jaw is wired shut for healing, and she has several medical appointments in the weeks ahead.

She works full-time for $17/hour and has done everything right—applying for emergency food assistance and maintaining her lease—but she’s now in crisis due to lost wages, babysitting costs (her abuser was previously the primary caregiver), and the sudden loss of her phone and utilities.

She needs:

Financial support to cover babysitting costs

Funds for a pay-as-you-go cell phone

Help paying utility bills now in her name

Basic supplies: diapers, kids' hygiene items, household staples

👉 To help, please reference: “Family B” in your donation.

---

🎄 Looking Ahead: Christmas 2025 Updates

As we begin gearing up for our holiday efforts, we want to be transparent and thoughtful in adapting to the current economic challenges.

This year, we’re asking sponsors to consider:

Gifts under $50 per child

For larger families, gifts in the $30–$40 range per child can make adoption more likely

Gift cards toward bigger needs (like winter coats, beds, shoes) are welcome too — this gives families flexibility while still respecting sponsors' budgets.

We’re incredibly proud of the success of our program year after year, and we remain deeply committed to fairness, sustainability, and honoring our sponsors and the brave families who apply.

---

📝 Family Applications Open in August

If you or someone you know would benefit from our Christmas program, applications will be accepted starting in August 2025. More details to follow soon.

---

Thank you for being a part of this mission. Whether you’ve sponsored a family, shared a post, or simply held space for a struggling parent—you’re part of a beautiful community, and we’re so grateful for you.

With love and gratitude,

Bethany Nelson-Lieser

Director, Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays MN
612-384-6318

Venmo Donations Welcome!
Adopt-a-Family For The Holidays MN
-MN

📸 You can also scan the QR code below to donate directly:

04/26/2025

Honoring Gabe, who had the kindest heart. May he Rest in Eternal Peace and Glory. Prayers uplifted for his loved ones. ❣️

Brian and I attended the wake and funeral this past week. Both were beautiful. His Dad and Brother gave beautiful eulogies. 🙏🏼

We pray with Gabe's family for peace of minds and hearts.

Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays MN

08/13/2025

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