Love INC of Carver County

08/25/2026

What an incredible weekend for our school supply events.

Not every family who needed help this year got signed up in time. Some just showed up.

At Friday's school supply drive event in Waconia, a teenager walked in without a registration. No spot reserved, no name on a list. Our volunteers didn't send him away. They welcomed him in and made sure he left with his own backpack, filled and ready for the school year ahead.

This is what "no one hears no" looks like in practice. Not a slogan. A teenager who almost fell through the cracks, and a room full of volunteers who made sure he didn't.

"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:5

Nearly 30 volunteers showed up Friday night to make moments like this possible. We are beyond grateful for these humans using their time to be the hands and feet of Christ and our mission. And a special thanks for Trinity Lutheran Church Waconia, MN for hosting our District 110 pick up location, and Westwood Community Church for hosting our District 112 pick up location and Willkommen Memorial Park Pavilion for hosting our NYA pickup location. THANK YOU!

If you know a family still needing support our helpline is here. (952) 500-9900.
Trinity Lutheran Church Waconia, MN Westwood Community Church

08/20/2026

Maybe you've seen our posts about this before, maybe you haven't, but either way, we want to make sure you know: our 9th Annual Love INC Golf Tournament is teeing off Monday, September 14th at Island View Golf Club in Waconia. We would love to have you out there with us.

So why does this golf event matter? Our goal is to impact 100 families through this event. It costs just $450 to give one family who is seeking stability a full year of help from Love INC. That is not much, but because of our churches and the way Love INC works, we are able to stretch every dollar to get families the essential living items they need, like cleaning supplies and diapers, so more of their own money can go toward things like the electric bill or a medical expense. These are real people in your community, and your participation in this event matters deeply.

Foursomes are $700, individual golfers are $175. And with a par or better pace of play, you can enjoy a great day on the course without it turning into a six hour round.

So here it is, your moment. Are you willing to play golf for a cause that matters to your community?

Ready to play? Registration is open.

08/19/2026

We want to take a moment to say thank you to WeCAN for donating 50 backpacks to our School Supply Drive this year. Fifty backpacks means fifty kids in Carver County starting the school year with something that is truly theirs.

This is what it looks like when organizations come alongside each other. WeCAN reached out, A Better Society helped make the connection, and just like that, our shelves were fuller and our families were more ready. It reminded us again that none of this work happens alone.

We are so grateful for partners like WeCAN who show up and make our efforts to support local kids possible.

Thank you, WeCAN - Western Communities Action Network.

08/19/2026

In 2025, 422 of you, our community, showed up for Band Together and helped raise $34,000 for neighbors in Carver County.

This year on October 3rd, we’re setting our sights even higher, with two bands to help us get there, Hitchville and Ragtown. Here’s what makes your ticket even more meaningful: it’s a tax-deductible donation supporting Love INC and Gather and Grow Food Shelf & Connection Center's work together. Not just one organization, but both.

Every $1,000 raised supports one Carver County family with food security and essential living items for a full year. Yes, one year.

Tickets are $40 per person this year to get us to our goal. And because we love you, we wanted to give you an added incentive to get your ticket sooner than later.

Buy your ticket before September 14th and save $5 with special code SAVE5 at checkout.

Learn more about the event, last year's impact and then grab your tickets by going to www.bandtogethercc.org. Use code SAVE5

Thank you for your support!
The Winery at Sovereign Estate

08/12/2026

Our School Supply Store lets kids from Districts 108, 110 and 112 walk in and pick out their own backpack, notebooks and supplies alongside a personal helper. It's a small thing that means a lot, the same dignity and choice we want every neighbor to feel when they come through our doors.

A huge thank you to Bountiful Baskets and everyone who dropped off supplies at Night to Unite. Our shelves are looking good because of you.

If you have a little room this week, we would love your help getting us the rest of the way there. We still have a few items left on our lists.

Philippians reminds us that God supplies what we need, and we get to be part of how that happens for these kids. Please drop off donations by August 17th. Pickup day is August 21 and we cannot wait to see their faces.

Thank you for supporting the Love, INC School Supply Event. Dontations may be dropped off at : Trinity Lutheran Chrurch (601 E. Second Street, Waconia) Door C (Main Entrance) St. Joe's Catholic Church (41 E. First Street, Waconia) Please drop off items no later that August 17 so we have time to orga...

08/08/2026

Earlier this week we shared that the need in Carver County keeps growing, more families are reaching out for help than ever before.

On September 14, our 9th Annual Golf Tournament gives our whole community a way to respond to that. And we get it, August just rolled in and we are already talking about September, and we need your help.

Our goal is simple and specific: fund a full year of support for 100 families through this one day at Island View Golf Club in Waconia.
That is only 10% of the families and households we served in 2025. Your support looks like diapers, cleaning supplies, and a working set of dishes in the kitchen. These are the daily living items that keep a home running, the ones that get pushed aside first when a family hits a hard season and the budget just does not stretch far enough.

That happens through Champion of Hope, Gold VIP, and Hole sponsorships, through foursomes and individual golfers, through raffle and auction donations, and through every business, church, and neighbor who decides to step up.

This is a call to our local businesses. This is a call to our community members. This is a call to every golfer, every pastor, and every church across Carver County.

The need is not going away, and it is only increasing. Without your help, we do not want to have to say no to a family who calls asking for the basics.

Grab your foursome, sponsor a hole, or donate to the auction. Let's fund 100 families together.

Register, sponsor, or donate to the auction, thank you.

Drive Hope Further & Farther Some of our neighbors are struggling. Over 7,700 residents live below the poverty line – including more than 2,200 children. Hundreds of families face food insecurity, unstable housing, and gaps in basic household essentials that often go unaddres...

08/06/2026

We are so excited to share what happened because of this incredible community and the partnership we have with Bountiful Basket Food Shelf. Our hearts are so full from the giving and generosity of everyone from the Night to Unite event this week.

Our helpline Coordinator Jenny had her truck filled to the top and drove with her SUV completely stuffed with school supplies, collected and donated to go into our school supply drive this year.

Backpacks, notebooks, folders, pencils… every single item means one more Carver County kid starts the school year ready and confident instead of worrying about what they’re missing.

Thank you, Bountiful Baskets, and thank you to everyone at Night to Unite who dropped off supplies for our neighbors. Our School Supply Drive is still open to donate and registraton for families in Districts 108, 110, and 112, with pickup on August 21.

City of Carver - Minnesota, Government City of Chanhassen, Minnesota Government City of Victoria, MN The Chaska Fire Department Chaska Police Department and so many others. Thank you.

08/05/2026

Backpacks don't fill themselves, and this year we need our community's help to make sure every K-12 student in District 110 walks into the school year ready.

Our School Supply Store, hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church of Waconia, gives Waconia and Cologne Academy families a joyful, dignified shopping experience. Each student gets to pick out their own backpack and supplies, no questions asked, no judgment given.

We recognize that families are out shopping at Target and other stores for their kids' own supplies as it gets closer and closer. And as you're doing that, we would like to ask you to consider picking up a few extra things that might be able to support a kid or family in our school supply drive.

There are many items we are still in need of. You will find a list of items via our sign up genius. Fill in what you plan to buy and please drop off items no later than August 17 so we have time to organize items for the event on August 21.

🎒 Donate supplies between August 3rd and 17th, dropped at Trinity Lutheran Church or the school's main entrance

🙌 Volunteer your time to help shop with a student or keep the store running smoothly

Donate supplies, give financially, or sign up to volunteer, links below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FA4A929A6FBC16-64374181-love #/
We appreciate you keeping this event in your prayers!

08/03/2026

Here's a number that stopped us in our tracks this week. From January through June, we saw a 23% increase in families reaching out for help compared to this same stretch last year.

That's dozens more of our neighbors picking up the phone, swallowing their pride, and asking for support with something as simple as diapers, cleaning supplies, or a bed for their child to sleep in.

For 20 years, this has been the heartbeat of Love INC: local churches showing up for Carver County families when life gets hard. This number tells us the need is growing, and so is our resolve to meet it.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

We're grateful for every church, volunteer, and donor who makes it possible to say yes when a neighbor calls, now more than ever.

07/30/2026

We’re in the final week, and we need your help to cross the finish line.

Right now, libraries across Carver County are collecting school supplies for local kids getting ready for a new school year, and we are one of the organizations who will get to put those supplies directly into the hands of families who need them. The response so far has been generous. Now we just need one more push to make sure every backpack goes out full.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

This is that proper time. If you have been meaning to drop off a few items, this week is the week. Notebooks, folders, crayons, glue sticks, pencils, backpacks… it all matters, and it all stays right here in Carver County. Drop off at your local library branch in Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, Waconia, Norwood Young America, or Watertown before the drive wraps up.

City of Chaska MN - Government City of Victoria, MN Waconia Public Schools City of Chanhassen, Minnesota Government