Two local organizations stand ready to help those in need of food assistance this month or beyond within the Cottage Grove area.
Basic Needs Food Market, located at 8475 Point Douglas Road, Suite 106, in Cottage Grove, offers a dignity based way to obtain needed food and other items in Cottage Grove. Led by Executive Director Opey Peñaloga, Basic Needs operates both a food market and thrift store at separate locations. The Basic Needs Food Market is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m, and on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number for Basic Needs Food Market is 612-489-6192, with more information at basicneedsmn.org.
Friends in Need Food Shelf, meanwhile, also stands ready to help area residents. Located at 535 Fourth Street in St. Paul Park, Friends in Need serves Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, Newport, and Grey Cloud Island. A registered non-profit that began in 1992 and currently led by Executive Director Jill Hughes with help from staff and volunteers, Friends in Need Food shelf also offers food assistance to those in need.
No appointment is necessary for Basic Needs Food Market, while those seeking to Friends in Need Food Shelf will need an appointment. The phone number for Friends in Need Food Shelf is 651-458-0730, with hours for calling Monday between 12 to 3 p.m. as well as Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friends in Need Food Shelf Executive Director Hughes shared more via email on what Friends in Need has to offer local residents.
“Thank you for reaching out,” she wrote. “Friends in Need is a traditional food shelf - in person shopping with a wide selection of items. We offer shelf stable foods like pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, etc. as well as bread, frozen items such as meat, fruits, vegetables and frozen meals. We also offer milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt and a wide selection of fresh produce. Of course, items may vary depending on what is available from Second Harvest - our main source of food. We do buy produce from a wholesaler too.
“There is no cost to shop at FIN but families must self-declare they are eligible (household income below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines). We require appointments - which can be made by calling 651-458-0730 on Mondays between 12-3 p.m. and Tuesdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. We have had a significant increase in families seeking our services in the last couple of weeks.
“Our shopping hours are Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. and on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m.
“Anyone interested in donating or volunteering can go to our website - finfood.org or call the food shelf at 651-458-0730.
Hughes went on to share and express gratitude that Friends in Need had recently received donations from the local Masonic lodge as well as a match from the Minnesota Masonic Lodge to help with pantry needs, as well as a donation from Training for Warriors.
“Training for Warriors in Cottage Grove had a Deadlift contest where members tried to see how much they could deadlift,” she said. “This is a yearly, Halloween Themed event. Each contestant raised money with all proceeds going to Friends in Need.”

As for Basic Needs Food Market, meanwhile, Basic Needs Executive Director Peñaloga shared more information on what the entity and separate thrift shop each have to offer, responding to a Journal questionnaire on services.

1. What can you tell me about Basic Needs Food Market? Does it cost anything? How do people sign up? What about partners or volunteers?
• The Food Market is a “walk-in, welcoming, dignity-based, choice-focused” grocery experience at no cost. More info here: www.basicneedsmn.org/food-market
• There are no income eligibility requirements, no paperwork, no appointment needed. You select groceries like in a store setting.
• Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m; Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Location: 8475 East Point Douglas Rd, Ste. 106, Cottage Grove.
• For volunteers or partners: Volunteer opportunities include food rescue (picking up donated food from local grocers, restaurants and schools), sorting/restocking, customer service. Link to volunteer: www.basicneedsmn.org/volunteer

Has the Food Market shifted in response to SNAP benefits news?
• We have doubled our amount of orders from Second Harvest to keep food stocked in the Market. We typically serve around 4,500 households a month and have seen an increase of 400 new shoppers in the last two weeks of October due to the SNAP Shutdown, which has brought us to almost 5,000 households served (over 80% from Cottage Grove, SPP, and Newport area). We believe we will continue to see a steady increase throughout November. Funds supporting a doubling of our food orders are coming from the recently released funding from the Washington County Commission board to assist food shelves during the SNAP shutdown.
• One of the primary issues for seniors in accessing the Food Market is transportation. We will pilot a new program starting with a holiday meal food drop for seniors at the Legends of Cottage Grove for Thanksgiving meals, and will begin making regular monthly food drops and expanding to other affordable apartments for seniors in Cottage Grove. This new program is supported by the Cottage Grove Fire Department who will be making the food drops and distributing the food in a farmers market style set up for residents to select their own fruits, vegetables and dry goods of their own choosing inside the lobby, decreasing the need for transportation to the Food Market and meeting the needs of our communities seniors who have limited resources. Funds supporting this new program distributing foods at our local affordable housing apartments for seniors are coming from the recently released funding from the Washington County Commission board to assist food shelves during the SNAP shutdown.

2. What about the Thrift Store and Voucher services?
Thrift Shop
• Location: 6990 80th Street South, Ste. 200, Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30 am-5:30 pm, Sat 10:30 am-4 pm, Sun 12-4 pm. More info: www.basicneedsmn.org/thriftshop
• It is open to everyone for the most affordable thrift prices in town of donated clothing, furniture, household goods. Sale proceeds support Basic Needs programs. Every dollar spent at the Basic Needs Thriftshop stays in our local community and supports the work we do from our Free Food Market to our Voucher Program below:
Voucher Program
• The Voucher Program provides emergency support for families facing crises. Requires intake via social services professionals who complete a contact form to submit a voucher on behalf of their clients facing emergencies, such as housefires, coming out of homelessness into more stable housing, leaving a violent relationship, etc. More info here: www.basicneedsmn.org/voucherprogram
“After eligibility is determined, approved individuals receive voucher dollars usable at the thrift shop for essentials: clothing, hygiene products, diapers, household & kitchen items,” Peñaloga said. “Vouchers expire after a year and voucher recipients are eligible to receive one voucher for themselves and includes their household. PeVouchers are submitted online from case managers, and people in need of food can go directly to the food market for food and hygiene support, and sometimes diapers are available there as well,”

For those readers the broader area there are the following resources for food assistance:

Open Cupboard
Serving: Woodbury, Oakdale, Landfall, and part of South Maplewood
8264 4th Street North
Oakdale, MN 55128
651-233-1296
More information: https://opencupboard.org

Hastings Family Services: The Market-Food Shelf
Serving: Hastings
301 Second Street East
Hastings MN 55033
651-437-7134
More information: https://hastingsfamilyservice.org/programs-services/the-market--food-shelf.html

Neighbors, Inc.
Serving: Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Mendota, Sunfish Lake, Lilydale
222 Grand Ave. W.
South St. Paul, MN 55075
651-455-1508
More information: https://www.neighborsmn.org

Merrick Food Shelf
Serving: St. Paul, Maplewood (2 locations)
1740 Van Dyke St.
St. Paul, MN 55109,or
1669 Arcade Street North, Door 3
St. Paul, MN 55106
651-287-2088 (number is the same for both locations)
More information: https://merrickcs.org/community-services/food/

St. Michael’s Food Shelf
Serving: Stillwater School District
611 3rd St. South
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-439-3241

Valley Outreach
Serving: School District 834
1911 Curve Crest Blvd. W.
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-430-2739
More information: https://valleyoutreachmn.org

North St. Paul Area Food Shelf
Serving: North St. Paul, Oakdale
2538 E. Seppala Blvd.
North St. Paul, MN 55109
651-770-1309
More information: https://www.nspafoodshelf.org