We were lucky to catch up with Danielle Igbanugo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Danielle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

Coated in Love is dedicated to providing hope, help, and resources to individuals experiencing
homelessness. Our belief is that everyone deserves to feel important and loved and treated with dignity, kindness and respect.

Coated in Love was established in response to the growing homelessness crisis in the Twin Cities metro
area. Recognizing the urgent need for comprehensive support, the organization began its journey by
hosting the annual “3000 Acts of Kindness” event. This event, held at the Minneapolis Convention
Center, quickly became a cornerstone of the organization’s efforts, providing essential services and
fostering a sense of community among guests. This event has grown from serving 900 guests our first year to more than 3,200 guests in 2024. This year our event will take place on December 8, 2025 and we anticipate this growth will continue.

Danielle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Coated in Love was created out of observing a need within the community. The individual experiencing homelessness has been steadily increasing over the years, reflecting broader economic and social challenges. In a single night, nearly 8,000 Minnesotans experience homelessness, encompassing families and individuals of all ages, genders, and races. Notably, nearly 40% of this population consists of women and children.

The community we serve faces numerous challenges, including lack of access to basic necessities, healthcare, and social services. Many individuals experiencing homelessness struggle with finding stable housing, employment, and rehabilitation solutions. These challenges are compounded by societal stigma and isolation, making it difficult for individuals to reintegrate into society and access the support they need.

Opportunities:
• Holistic Support: Coated in Love aims to provide comprehensive support that addresses both immediate needs and long-term solutions. Our flagship event, the “3000 Acts of Kindness,” is designed to offer a wide range of services in one place, creating a holistic support system for our guests.
• Community Engagement: By involving over 500 volunteers and collaborating with more than 80 social service agencies, we create a network of care that amplifies our impact and fosters a sense of community and belonging among our guests.

Challenges:
• Growing Demand: The increasing number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities presents a significant challenge. As the need for our services grows, so does the demand for resources and support.
• Resource Limitations: While we receive invaluable community support from businesses, churches, and other organizations, securing sufficient funding and resources to sustain and expand our efforts remains a constant challenge.

3000 Acts of Kindness Event: Our annual “3000 Acts of Kindness” event, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, is a cornerstone of our efforts to address the needs of the homeless community. This one-day event invites individuals experiencing homelessness to receive essential material items such as coats, winter wear, boots, shoes, and reading glasses. Guests are also treated to lunch, complimentary haircuts, toiletry kits, and access to over 80 social service agencies.

• Material Support: By providing essential items, we help individuals meet their basic needs, which is a critical first step towards stability and self-sufficiency.
• Access to Services: The event offers access to a wide range of social services, including healthcare, housing assistance, and employment support. This comprehensive approach helps individuals address multiple aspects of their lives simultaneously.
• Sense of Belonging: More importantly, the event creates a safe and warm space for reflection, camaraderie, and the opportunity to feel valued and loved. This sense of belonging is crucial for individuals who often feel isolated and marginalized.

Continuous Improvement through Feedback: At Coated in Love, we believe in the power of feedback to drive continuous improvement. We have implemented a robust system for collecting evaluative feedback from those experiencing homelessness to assess the impactfulness and quality of our services. This feedback is collected through surveys and interviews, both during and after events, to ensure we capture a comprehensive view of our guests’ experiences.

Service Improvements: Based on the feedback received, we have made several improvements to our services. For example, guests expressed a need for more healthcare services at our events. In response, we partnered with local healthcare providers to offer on-site health screenings and consultations. Our guests have reported higher satisfaction with our services following these improvements, with one guest noting, “The addition of healthcare services has been a game-changer. I feel like my health needs are being taken seriously, and I appreciate the comprehensive support”.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

By asking those we serve what their specific needs are. For example, many of our guests indicated that they felt unseen. In order to address this, each guest has a volunteer to escort them through the event helping them find what they need and the items of greatest importance. In addition to helping them through the event, our volunteers listen to our guests to try and offer as much support, kindness and dignity to each person individually. This unique aspect of the event ensures real engagement with the individuals that we serve.

Through out this event, people who have emerged from homelessness speak and share their stories and how they made it out. These stories serve to inspire and engage guests at the event.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

As the Founder, each year I visit shelters, social services and engage with community members to hand out invitations to anyone who may have a need from the 3,000 Acts of Kindness event. This grassroots, hands-on approach has allowed for our event to grow and reach more of those in need. Word of mouth from trusted sources has been our single greatest means of communicating with those throughout the Twin Cities area.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coatedinlove.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coated_in_love_mn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoatedInLove
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coated-in-love/
• Twitter: https://x.com/3000aok
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@3000ActsOfKindness

Image Credits

Full Hands Photography