Woodbury’s Miss Minnesota Pre-Teen rallies support for homeless

The 2018 Miss Minnesota Pre-Teen, Grace Nester, of Woodbury, has collected needed items for homeless women and children, as well as funds through “My Saving Grace,” a charity organization she created.

Nester, 12, is a three-time Minnesota pageant winner and national competitor, winning fourth-runner up in 2013 and first-runner up in 2016, her mother, Deona, explains. She chose to support Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities.

“When we went down and toured the (men’s) facility, we found out there was another site for women and children,” said Deona. “She said, ‘Mom, I don’t think they know, I want them to know there are people who care.’”

The girl found out about the Mission last year during through care package effort at her school, New Life Academy in Woodbury. Students packed socks, water bottles, ponchos and Bibles with handwritten letters for people at Union Gospel Mission.

Nester partnered with Woodbury Dance Center to collect items including bar soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, lotion and new or gently used winter clothing.

She’s presented the contributions at the Union Gospel Mission’s Naomi Family Residence, 77 Ninth Street East, in St. Paul.