The Cottage Grove Police Department teamed up last week with The Connect Center’s Youth Connections drop-in at All Saints Church in Cottage Grove.

Cottage Grove officers Dan Schoen and Luke Landgraf along with Detective Pat Young, dropped off boxes of new coats at All Saints Church, located at 8101 Belden Boulevard in Cottage Grove, just north of 80th Street South. Community Engagement Officer Schoen had more to share when reached for comment.

“We’ve had them from different organizations,” Schoen said of the new coats donated to the department. “Part of my position in finding some of these groups in our community that are active” and making sure the donations go where they are needed, he went on.

As to the new coat donations, they were made by the police department to the Connect Center, which runs out of All Saints just off Highway 61. The Connect Center helps provide what it calls a “health support center” for youth through drop-in locations like that at All Saints, along with St. Paul’s Chruchin Stillwater at 609 5th Street South. While both churches themselves are Lutheran, the Connect Center stresses that no religious affiliation is attached to the site, made available through the generous donation of space. Designated a Safe Space where all are welcome, services available to youth on site include hot food, a computer lab, showers, phone charging, personal care items including food and clothing, assistance in resource and referrals, listening and hearing those who drop-in, along with assessment and coordinated entry.

Taken more broadly, the Connect Center also provides resources for families related to mental illness, along with career connections for those experiencing poverty. More on the Connect Center and what it offers is available by going to www.theconnectcenter. org or by calling Alexa Shelton at 612-475-4005.