The number of attendees at the Fall Pit Stop event shows that there is great need in the community to support low-income and homeless individuals.”

Basic Needs Inc. Development Manager Antonio Jones Jr.

This nationwide effort helps communities like Washington County gain insights into the extent of homelessness, track progress in addressing the issue, and ensure that support and resources are directed where they are most needed.”

Basic Needs Inc. Development Manager Antonio Jones Jr.

Cottage Grove Armory
8180 Belden Blvd.
Cottage Grove, MN 55016
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The first annual Pit Stop at the Cottage Grove National Guard Armory in Cottage Grove off Belden Boulevard is officially in the history books.
Put on Nov. 6 by Basic Needs, Inc. of South Washington County in conjunction with community partners, the PIT in Pit Stop stands for Point-In-Time, seeking to meet the needs of South Washington County residents where they are.
Helped at this year’s Pit Stop were 400 individual attendees, including 180 from Cottage Grove, 68 from St. Paul Park, and 48 from St. Paul. With 18 communities represented and over 25 organizations and businesses participating, the one day Nov. 6 Pit Stop in Cottage Grove has both a long backstory and planning that went into it, explained by Basic Needs Inc. Development Manager Antonio Jones Jr.
“Every year, on a designated day, communities across the country conduct a Point-In-Time (PIT) count of all individuals experiencing homelessness,” he explains. “This nationwide effort helps communities like Washington County gain insights into the extent of homelessness, track progress in addressing the issue, and ensure that support and resources are directed where they are most needed. This community led program started four years ago in Stillwater, Minnesota. The Fall Pit Stop is the first time that this event has been hosted in Cottage Grove. Basic Needs partnered with Washington County Public Health to organize this event.”
Established in 1997, Basic Needs Inc. of South Washington County seeks to provide vital food security and essential services to low-income families in Washington, Ramsey, and Dakota Counties. “We offer barrier-free access to nutritious food through our free Food Market, emergency vouchers via our affordable thrift shop, and a social services referral network focused on equity and sustainability,” Jones said. “Our mission is to uplift 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.”
The purpose of the Pit Stop is to serve unhoused individuals as well as those most at risk of being unhoused. It does this by things like providing a warm meal, resources and other services, including personal care items, food and gas cards, baby items, winter clothes for adults and children, and school supplies. Attendees can also learn about county services available to them.
“The number of attendees at the Fall Pit Stop event shows that there is great need in the community to support low-income and homeless individuals,” Jones said of the event. “We are very grateful for the many community volunteers and organizations that helped make this event possible.” Included in Pit Stop sponsors this year are All Saints Church, Health Partners, Medica, Washington County Children’s Preventio, and SoWashCo Cares.
Local needs identified, Jones expressed a hope to host the Pit Stop annually.
“We plan to host Pit Stop annually and continue moving the needle on creating a more equitable community by uplifting low-income and homeless folks,” he said.
Including in South Washington County.