Basic Needs, Inc of South Washington County dba Stone Soup Thrift Shop

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).

Reports & Finances

If you have additional questions regarding a nonprofit's financials, visit their website, or call and ask to review their IRS Form 990, Annual Report, or Audit for a more complete picture of their financial story.
Major Program Expenses
Community Elves:
$4,499
Community Garden:
$1,473
Skoolie Event:
$456
Emergency Help:
$903
Give Back Project:
$1,400
Movies in the Park:
$3,930
Saturday Supper:
$5,550
Thanksgiving Meal Challenge:
$3,955
3 Year Average Expenses
Program Services
$310,087
82.8%
Management
$49,267
13.1%
Fundraising
$15,358
4.1%
Unrestricted Net Assets
End of Year:
Beginning of Year:
Difference:
2022
$183,763
$164,819
$18,944
2021
$164,819
$259,752
($94,933)
2020
$259,752
$175,319
$84,433

Notes from the Council

Organization Last Reviewed on 09/07/2023

This date is representative of when we completed our initial Accountability Wizard® nonprofit review, and provided the organization with their results. This review is good for three years from the date provided
Return to List of Reviewed Nonprofits

Connect

Address:
445 Broadway Ave
St Paul Park, MN 55071
Phone: 651-207-8656
Website: basicneedsmn.org

General Information

Alternative Name: Basic Needs Thrift Shop, Basic Needs, Basic Needs Services, Basic Needs Food Market
EIN: 41-1878604
Principal Staff: Opey Penaloga
Number of Full-Time Equivalents (FTE): 5
Volunteer Opportunities: Yes
Number of Clients: 77,236
Ruling Year: 1997

Board

Board Chair: Whitney Harvey
Number of Board Members: 6
Board Meetings with Quorum: 27
Average Member Attendance: 6.3

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Let’s Connect

1915 Highway 36 W Ste 133 • Roseville, Minnesota 55113-2709
Phone: (651) 224–7030 • E-mail: info@smartgivers.org

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