Black Business Network · Holiday 2026
Holiday Support + Wishes
For the families behind small businesses
Behind every small business is a household. This holiday season, BBN is connecting companies, employee teams and Black-owned businesses with the families behind the small businesses we serve. You fund or fulfill. BBN handles the coordination, privacy, matching and distribution.
Sponsor and partner commitments requested by December 20, 2026.
Who this helps
Small-business families
The households behind the businesses BBN serves.
Business owners and entrepreneurs
Brick-and-mortar, mobile, home-based and emerging businesses.
Children and household members
The people supported by, and standing behind, each business.
BBN primarily serves businesses and households across Ramsey and Hennepin counties. About 79% of the businesses BBN currently serves are East Side businesses, and about 69% of that group also lives on the East Side.
What the program includes
Small-Business Family Adoption
Companies and employee teams adopt the families behind small businesses. BBN is working toward up to 50 households, selected and invited in phased waves.
Family support
Groceries, winter essentials such as coats, boots, hats and blankets, basic household needs, and children’s and teens’ wishes.
Shop Black fulfillment
Black-owned businesses can provide goods, services and gift cards that fulfill approved needs. Where possible, BBN sources support through Black-owned businesses, so holiday dollars also land back in the local economy.
Business stabilization and resource connections
Holiday support is one part of BBN’s work with these businesses. Owners can also be connected to BBN business resources, programs and partners through the BBN Member Portal.
Sponsor or adopt a family
Choose the level that fits your company or team. There is no minimum and no wrong size.
Adopt 1 family
Fulfill one approved household wish list.
Adopt 3 families
Make it a department or employee-team effort.
Adopt 5 or more
Create a larger, company-wide holiday activation.
Sponsor a category
Winter gear, groceries, gift cards, meals for the holiday week or household essentials.
Sponsor a wish
Sponsor a child or teen and fulfill an individual approved wish.
Fill the remaining needs
Help BBN close the gaps left after household matching, or give to the pooled support fund.
What an adoption may include
- Children’s gifts
- Teen gifts
- Apparel
- Shoes
- Winter gear
- Household essentials
- Groceries
- Gift cards
- Practical family needs
How BBN protects families
Partners are not asked to verify need, run intake or manage distribution. BBN handles the legwork, and keeps family identities private throughout.
Household intake
BBN privately reviews and gathers each household’s approved needs and wishes.
Private matching
BBN matches an approved sponsor, company or team with a household.
Wish list
The sponsor receives only what is needed to fulfill the match.
Fulfillment
The sponsor shops, or provides goods, gift cards or approved support.
Distribution
BBN coordinates delivery or pickup with the household.
Family identities and sensitive household information are protected. Public recognition never requires identifying recipient families.
For families
Holiday Support + Wishes serves households connected to the small businesses BBN works with, primarily in Ramsey and Hennepin counties. Households are selected and invited in phased waves. There is no open application right now.
BBN members can sign in to the Member Portal for BBN’s business support, or join BBN to become part of the network. For questions about family support, email connect@blackbusinessnetworkmn.org.
Buy Black Friday — 2026 season finale
Friday, November 27, 2026 3–8 PM
901 Payne Avenue, Saint Paul · Free to attend
Black-owned business shopping, community celebration and holiday support for small-business families. Family adoption is coordinated through BBN: recipient families and sponsors do not need to attend.
Questions and recognition
Email connect@blackbusinessnetworkmn.org. Participating companies may be recognized as Holiday Support Partners on BBN holiday materials, social media, the Buy Black Friday event page and BBN’s season wrap-up. Recognition is scaled to the contribution and confirmed with the partner in writing before publication.