Mission Statement
Basic Needs uplifts those who have encountered hardship by providing barrier-free access to basic needs via our nutritious and fresh food market, affordable and high-quality thrift shop, and social services referral network to build a stronger community focused on equity, inclusion, and sustainability.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
Basic Needs combats food insecurity with a walk-in, welcoming, dignity-based, choice-focused food
market, including well-stocked grocery staples, a consistent supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, and an
anonymity and convenience-based shopping experience designed for clients hesitant to engage with the
hunger relief sector. We currently are serving over 3,500 families and distribuOng over 60,000 pounds of
food that has been rescued from the Co?age Grove Community to over 80 zip codes in the Twin CiOes. In
addiOon, we had our 34 bed community garden, Growth for Good , that grew and distributed over 600
pounds of food to the food market as well.
Free Li?le Pantries
For those experiencing emergency food assistance, Basic Needs supports 24/7 Free Li?le Pantry
locaOons using the philosophy, “Take what you need, give what you can.” There are a total of six pantries
located in the community -h?ps://www.basicneedsmn.org/free-li?le-pantries.
Basic Needs ThriO Shop
Our 100% community-donated thriO shop offers a variety of seasonal, carefully inspected, gently used
merchandise for public purchase, with sales reinvested in the Basic Needs programming.
Voucher Program and Social Services
The Basic Needs voucher program provides emergency support to families facing crises with an
immediate referral to our thriO shop and comprehensive social services network. In 2024 Basic Needs
assisted 59 households with over $11,000 worth of voucher items. Our clients lived in Hennepin, Anoka,
Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington CounOes. In addiOon, we distributed one-Ome charitable
donaOons/free items in the community totaling $11,754.
We also partner with other social services agencies throughout Washington County to offer emergency
support like the cold weather winter shelter, hotel vouchers, gas cards, and car repairs.
Season Assistance
Expect compassionate seasonal support that buoys spirits during what can be a difficult Ome of year for
many, including Thanksgiving meals and other holiday assistance. In partnership with the Washington
County family services and South Washington County School district 833, we supplied 42 families with
Thanksgiving meals and 70 families with holidays giOs in 2023.
Current Goals
The following goals help the organization to effectively fulfill its mission and make a positive difference in the lives of those it serves. They include expanding our reach of Basic Needs Food Market to serve an additional one hundred families, ensuring equitable access to nutritious food across diverse communities. We want to strengthen our partnerships with local organizations and social services agencies to increase referrals and support for individuals facing crises, aiming to assist one hundred more households through our voucher program compared to the previous year. We aim to increase our sustainable practices within our operations, such as increasing food rescue efforts to divert additional pounds of food from landfills.
We want to increase visibility and awareness of our programs and services within the community aiming to reach 10% more individuals in need of assistance compared to the previous year.
With the current Executive Director leaving and being the main grant writer, funding sources and revenue streams to ensure long-term financial sustainability need to be identified to increase fundraising efforts by 15% and explore grant opportunities to support program expansion and development.
We collect a lot of data, but we need to implement a more robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the effectiveness and impact of Basic Needs programs, with a focus on collecting feedback from clients and stakeholders to inform continuous improvement efforts.
Community or Constituency Served
We provide Basic Needs to disadvantaged community members of Washington County and surrounding communities.
Geographic Area Served
Washington County and surrounding communities in Minnesota (Twin Cities Metro).
