Minneapolis (Jan. 20, 2026) – The emergency clothing closet at Hennepin Healthcare is being filled, at a critical time, with help from the 4th annual Meet Minneapolis Warm Winter Clothing Drive. Since mid-November, Meet Minneapolis, its tourism and hospitality partner businesses, community businesses and individuals collected more than $11,000 in new winter clothing. The collected coats, boots, gloves, hats and winter essentials, as well as financial contributions to purchase needed items, will go directly to patients who face leaving Hennepin Healthcare facilities during wintertime without adequate clothing.

“Winter can be unforgiving, especially for people leaving the hospital without the basics they need to stay warm,” said Melvin Tennant, Meet Minneapolis president and CEO. “This clothing drive is a simple but meaningful way our tourism and hospitality community shows up for neighbors in need. We’re grateful to the partners, businesses and individuals who continue to give generously so patients can leave Hennepin Healthcare with warmth, dignity and care.”

This year’s warm winter clothing drive includes generous support from the tourism, hospitality and business community, including:

• $2,000 from the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
• $1,530 from the Marquette Hotel and Windows at Marquette
• $1,500 from the Minnesota Vikings
• $1,000 from the City of Lakes Rotary Club

“We are deeply grateful for the clothing and financial donations from the Meet Minneapolis Warm Winter Clothing Drive, and for their generosity and compassion year after year that helps our patients leave our hospital feeling cared for as whole people,” said Theresa Pesch, RN, president of Hennepin Healthcare Foundation. “As the largest and busiest Level I trauma center for adults and pediatrics in the area, we often care for people on the hardest days of their lives. Our emergency clothing closet answers this need with new shirts, pants, socks, underwear and seasonal items, so each individual can depart our care with dignity.”

Contributions included donated, new clothing items valued in the thousands from Meet Minneapolis board members, hotels, businesses, including the Minnesota Twins, Hilton Minneapolis, West Maka Ska Neighborhood Council and Bakken Museum, and individuals across the region. Added to the first three years of this drive, Meet Minneapolis and its partners have donated more than $49,000 in warm winter clothing to patients in need at Hennepin Healthcare.

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Pictured from left to right: Paula Wilhelm, Hennepin Healthcare Foundation Director of Corporate Giving and Engagement, Ka Vang, Meet Minneapolis Vice President of Equity and Community Impact and Melvin Tennant, Meet Minneapolis President and CEO.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS
Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit to the greater Minneapolis area. Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of Destinations International.

ABOUT HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE
Hennepin Healthcare is an integrated system of care that includes HCMC, a nationally recognized Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and acute care hospital, as well as a clinic system with primary care clinics located in Minneapolis and across Hennepin County. It is operated by Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., a subsidiary corporation of Hennepin County. Learn more about Hennepin Healthcare at www.hennepinhealthcare.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Kristen Montag, Senior PR Manager, o 612-767-8038, c 651-335-5754, KristenM@minneapolis.org

Kathy McCarthy, Senior PR Director, o 612-767-8048, c 612-508-9720, KathyM@minneapolis.org