Basic Needs Inc Of South Washington County

OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE BASIC NEEDS OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY SUCH AS HOUSING, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND COORDINATED SERVICES.

IN 2021, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MADE SEVERAL CHANGES WHICH INCLUDED THE CHANGE OF OUR MISSION AND THE EXPANSION OF OUR PROGRAMS. THEY ALSO CHOSE TO RE-INVEST IN THE ORGANIZATION WHICH INCLUDED A LEASE FOR AN OFFICE LOCATION TO MANAGE PROGRAMS, HIRING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND MOVING THE THRIFT SHOP TO A NEW RETAIL LOCATION. WITH THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH A VOLUNTEER CONSULTANT TO HELP US DETERMINE HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT ALL THE SERVICES/PROGRAMS THAT WE NOW PROVIDE. THEY INCLUDE ADDRESSING HOUSING CONCERNS, ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, OUR VOUCHER PROGRAM (CLOTHING), AND OTHER COORDINATED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GAS CARDS, REPAIR HELP, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. DURING COVID AND NOW, WE ARE SEEING THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE MUST MAKE. UTILITIES ARE DOUBLED, GAS PRICES ARE ON THE RISE, AND FOOD PRICES HAVE INCREASED. A CAR REPAIR OR NOT HAVING ENOUGH GAS MONEY CAN PUT COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES AND COULD THREATEN THEIR STABILITY. WE WANT TO BE THERE, SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, BELOW IS HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY: 1) WE PROVIDE FRESH FAMILY MEALS BY WORKING WITH THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH THROUGH THE SATURDAY SUPPER PROGRAM SERVING 100 PEOPLE. FIFTY PERCENT OF THE ATTENDEES ARE SENIORS. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM TO OTHER DAYS ION THE MONTH. 2) WE STARTED OUR FREE LITTLE PANTRY PROGRAM IN 2020 AND WE ARE EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM TO SIX LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE IN THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITIES: NEWPORT, ST PAUL PARK, AND COTTAGE GROVE. WE HOPE TO EXPAND AND ADD THESE IN WOODBURY BY 2023. OUR FREE LITTLE PANTRY OFFERS EMERGENCY, SHORT TERM ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY IN A CONVENIENT ?GRAB AND GO? MODEL WITH NON-PERISHABLES AVAILABLE 24/7. THIS ALSO ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE IN WAYS THAT ARE MANAGEABLE AND TANGIBLE AND THIS IS A WAY THEY CAN HELP. YOU CAN PICK UP A COUPLE OF CANS AT THE GROCERY STORE, AND PUT THEM INTO A PANTRY, AND FEEL LIKE YOU?RE DOING SOMETHING. WE KNOW THE PANTRY BREAKS DOWN THE BARRIERS BETWEEN A SERVICE PROVIDER AND CLIENT THAT YOU SEE IN TRADITIONAL FOOD SHELVES. ANYONE CAN WALK UP TO THE PANTRY AND NOT BE EMBARRASSED OR ASHAMED. WE GET DELIVERIES OF NONPERISHABLE ITEMS FROM HYVEE FOUR TIMES A WEEK AND USE THAT TO HELP FILL THE PANTRIES. 3) COMMUNITY GARDEN: GROWTH FOR GOOD: BASIC NEEDS WAS APPROACHED ABOUT CREATING A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN 2020 BY STEVE ADAMS WHO WANTED TO DONATE LAND FOR USE LOCATED IN NEWPORT, MN. THAT IDEA BECAME A REALITY IN 2021 WHEN THE GROWTH FOR GOOD GARDEN WAS CREATED. WITH THE HELP OF IN KIND DONATIONS (PLANTS, SEEDS, FENCING, SOIL, ROCKS) AND THE HELP OF THE LIONS CLUB FUNDS, EAGLE SCOUTS, GIRLS SCOUTS, AND HELP FROM WASHINGTON COUNTIES SENTENCE TO SERVE PROGRAM, WE CREATED A 75X75 ENCLOSED SECURE GARDEN WITH 20 BEDS. ALL BEDS WERE SPONSORED BY GROUPS THAT HAD TO WATER AND WEED. VEGETABLES COULD BE HARVESTED BY THE GROUPS OR BE DONATED FOR THE SENIOR HOUSING UNITS IN THE AREA (WINGS OF NEWPORT, NORRIS SQUARE, AND WHITE PINES). I THE FALL OF 2021 THE GARDEN WAS MADE ADA COMPLIANT WITH RAISED BEDS SO THAT WHEELCHAIRS/WALKERS CAN BE USED IN THE SPACE. IN 2022, WE HOPE TO EXPAND THE GARDEN TO 30 BEDS FOR A TOTAL OF 34. IN ADDITION TO GROWING VEGETABLES, WE OFFERED EDUCATIONAL OFFERING EVERY WEEK FROM THE MIDDLE OF JUNE THRU AUGUST. TOPICS INCLUDED SESSIONS ON BEES, POLLINATORS, MONARCHS, COMPOSTING, AND WATER CONSERVATION PLUS OTHERS. 4) THANKSGIVING MEAL CHALLENGE: WORKING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT 833 AND WASHINGTON COUNTY SERVICES, BASIC NEEDS WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PRE-COOKED THANKSGIVING MEAL FOR 54 FAMILIES. WE PARTNERED WITH TINUCCI'S AND SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS TO HAVE THE MEALS DELIVERED TO THOSE FAMILIES REFERRED TO US. 5) OUR THRIFT SHOP PROVIDES FREE BREAD TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS DELIVERED THREE- FOUR DAYS A WEEK. IN 2021 WE DISTRIBUTED 34,644 LBS. OF BAKERY ITEMS. 6) WE PARTNERED WITH STARBUCKS AGAIN 2021 TO DISTRIBUTE BAKERY AND FOOD ITEMS AT THE THRIFT SHOP THAT TOTALED 1,452 POUNDS.