Feeding Hope with Dignity: The Story of Basic Needs Food Market
It’s a brisk weekday afternoon in Cottage Grove, and the Basic Needs Food Market is humming with activity. A volunteer greets a mother and her two children as they grab a cart and wander through aisles of fresh produce, canned goods, and bread. The scene looks like any small neighborhood grocery—colorful fruits and vegetables neatly stacked, a scale in the corner, and kids giggling as they place oranges into the cart. But unlike a typical grocery store, there are no prices and no checkout lines. Everything here is free for those who need it. For many families across the Cottage Grove and Hastings area—especially parents of school-aged kids who usually rely on free school lunches—this innovative market has become a lifeline. The Basic Needs Food Market operates in partnership with—and as a supplement to—the essential food-shelf services already provided by Hastings Family Service, ensuring the community has multiple, complementary safety nets. From Stone Soup to a Storefront of Generosity (Origin Story)
Basic Needs Food Market wasn’t always a market. Its story began with a simple idea in 1996, when a group of neighbors set out to help others in need. They started a humble thrift store—aptly named Stone Soup, after the fable about a community coming together to create a meal from nothing. Locals donated gently used clothes and household items, which were resold at affordable prices to support community programs basicneedsmn.org. The thrift shop’s earnings funded a voucher system, providing free essentials to individuals experiencing hardship. Over the years, this nonprofit (formally known as Basic Needs Inc. of South Washington County) expanded its mission to address housing, clothing, and other basic needs basicneedsmn.org. Yet one fundamental need remained at the forefront: food.
By the early 2020s, with food insecurity on the rise, the team at Basic Needs had a bold vision. What if a food shelf could look and feel like a real grocery store? They imagined a pleasant shopping experience where anyone needing healthy, fresh food could “shop” with dignity—no barriers, no costs basicneedsmn.org. This would also be a place where surplus food from local groceries could be rescued from going to waste and redirected to families’ tables. In September 2023, that vision became reality with the grand opening of the Basic Needs Food Market in Cottage Grove, just a short drive from Hastings. “Food is a basic right and need for all,” says Vickie Snyder, former Executive Director of Basic Needs. “Our intention is for our clientele to have the opportunity to shop for their foods of choice, including an abundance of fresh produce and culturally specific food options” basicneedsmn.org. In other words, this wouldn’t be a typical food pantry with a pre-packed box of canned goods. It would be a mini-grocery store where shoppers can pick exactly what their family needs and prefers, whether that’s whole grain bread or halal chicken, broccoli or bananas.
The Basic Needs Food Market opened its doors at 8475 East Point Douglas Road in Cottage Grove, decked out like a cozy neighborhood market. The space—about 4,100 square feet—features aisles of staple groceries, refrigerated sections for dairy and meats, and produce displays that wouldn’t look out of place in a commercial supermarket basicneedsmn.org. The difference? No checkout registers. Instead of cashiers, friendly volunteers help restock shelves and assist shoppers. And instead of prices, there’s a simple request: take what you need, when you need it. The market operates on an honor system, with an emphasis on trust and respect. There are no eligibility requirements or income checks to shop here; anyone in need can walk in during operating hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:30am–3:00pm & Wednesday 10:30am-5:30pm). As Basic Needs puts it, “What you need, when you need it” is the guiding philosophy basicneedsmn.org.
A Dignity-Driven “Food Shelf” That Feels Like a Grocery Store
Walking into Basic Needs Food Market, you might forget for a moment that it’s a charitable food shelf. There’s no cumbersome intake process, no questions asked about your finances, and no judgment. Shoppers are greeted with warmth and anonymity – everyone is simply a customer. “Basic Needs combats food insecurity with a walk-in, welcoming, dignity-based, choice-focused food market,” the organization explains, noting that the experience is designed for folks “hesitant or unable to engage with the hunger relief sector” basicneedsmn.org. Here, they can browse shelves freely, just like at Cub or Walmart, and choose items their family will actually eat.
Fresh produce is a priority at the Basic Needs Food Market. The aisles are stocked with a consistent supply of fruits and vegetables, so families can enjoy nutritious meals even when money is tight basicneedsmn.org. The market’s model proves that a food shelf can feel inviting and empowering—more like shopping and less like charity. Images by HastingsNow.com/ashley
Choice is a game-changer. One Cottage Grove mother who shops at the market shared that being able to select her own groceries has allowed her family to continue eating healthy meals even while paying the bills. She’s not alone. In a recent focus group, customers described Basic Needs volunteers as “joyful, welcoming, warm, and helpful,” and said they love having the freedom to pick what food goes into their carts basicneedsmn.org. For instance, if your kids love apples but won’t touch canned peaches, you take apples. If you have a toddler who needs diapers, there may be some available in the “basics” aisle. By letting people choose, the Food Market honors their dignity—and greatly reduces food waste (because unwanted items aren’t being forced on anyone).
That welcoming atmosphere is created largely by volunteers. The Food Market is entirely volunteer-run, with over 50 community members taking shifts to keep the doors open and shelves organized. Many volunteers are local seniors or civic-minded residents, all “committed to reducing waste and helping food get to those in need.” basicneedsmn.org They greet shoppers with a smile, offer to help carry groceries, and treat everyone like a valued customer rather than a charity case. The result is an environment where people feel comfortable coming back as often as they need. “Perhaps you’re in an emergency, having a tough month, or there isn’t enough money to pay the bills and eat well – Basic Needs is here to help,” the organization promises basicneedsmn.org. There’s no limit to how often someone can visit; in fact, regulars are welcome to stop by once a day if necessary basicneedsmn.org. Upon checkout, the only thing staff might ask is a phone number and zip code—purely to collect data on what areas they’re serving, and even that is voluntary basicneedsmn.org.
Fighting Hunger and Food Waste, One Cart at a Time (Impact and Programs)
In just over a year since opening, Basic Needs Food Market has made a tremendous impact on both hunger relief and food waste reduction in the Cottage Grove and Hastings area. The concept of rescuing surplus food and giving it away for free is a win-win: families get fed and perfectly good food doesn’t end up in the landfill. The numbers tell an impressive story. About 80% of the market’s food supply is “rescued” from local businesses that donate their excess inventory basicneedsmn.org. Every morning, Basic Needs staff and volunteers climb into a van and make rounds to grocery stores and restaurants across town – Cub Foods, Hy-Vee, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, Panera Bread, and other generous partners. On an average day, they pick up around 3,500 pounds of food that these retailers can’t sell (maybe it’s nearing the sell-by date, or they overstocked) basicneedsmn.org. Instead of throwing it out, stores are thrilled to give it to Basic Needs volunteers waiting at the dock. By the end of 2023, the organization had built relationships with more than a dozen local food businesses, and more are joining every day basicneedsmn.org. In 2022, before the market even opened, Basic Needs had rescued 61,000 pounds of food through this program – and in 2023, that rocketed to over 273,000 pounds basicneedsmn.org. Now, with the Food Market in full swing, the totals have grown even higher.
According to Basic Needs’ records, over 600,000 individuals – including children and seniors – received free food through the market in its first year basicneedsmn.org. (That figure counts repeat visits, of course. On a typical day, about 200 shoppers come through the doors basicneedsmn.org, and many have multiple family members benefitting from each cart of groceries.) Since September 2023, the Basic Needs Food Market has distributed an astonishing 607,000+ pounds of food to the community basicneedsmn.org. That includes rescued bread, produce, meat, dairy, and pantry items that otherwise might have been tossed in dumpsters. It also includes fresh foods sourced through other creative channels – like their partnerships with major food banks and local growers. Second Harvest Heartland, one of the nation’s largest hunger relief organizations, lets Basic Needs purchase staple foods in bulk when donations run low basicneedsmn.org. And The Food Group, a Minnesota nonprofit focused on food equity, helps supply culturally specific foods (so families can find items familiar to their traditions) basicneedsmn.org. Basic Needs even grows its own fresh produce in the warmer months: a community garden in Newport (run with help from Newport Collision Center) yielded about 800 pounds of vegetables in 2022, all of which went straight to the market’s shelves basicneedsmn.org. In partnership with the Park Grove Library, the team delivered 30,695 pounds of food to a small satellite pantry at the local library for even greater reach basicneedsmn.org. And in keeping with its sustainability values, the market composted over 12,600 pounds of food scraps that couldn’t be used basicneedsmn.org.
All those numbers add up to lives changed. Basic Needs is seeing neighbors helping neighbors on a grand scale. “We’ve gotten creative and fostered some great relationships with a network of food-supplying streams that reflects the unique backgrounds and experiences of the individuals and families that frequent the market,” says Snyder basicneedsmn.org. She emphasizes that it takes a village of partnerships and supporters to keep the steady stream of food going. Churches, community groups, and even backyard gardeners have pitched in to organize food drives and donate excess garden produce basicneedsmn.org. Local companies have sponsored supplies – everything from refrigerators and freezers to the shopping carts and baskets shoppers use basicneedsmn.org. “We welcome the community to reach out to work with us!” Snyder adds enthusiastically basicneedsmn.org.
The volunteers on the ground see the impact every day. They can recount stories of parents who left the market with tears of relief, or kids who came along and beamed with excitement because they got to pick out their favorite cereal and a fresh watermelon. One volunteer (a retiree from Hastings) noted how surprised first-time shoppers often are: “They keep asking, ‘Are you sure I can take this for free?’ and we say absolutely – this is here for you.” It only takes a few visits before those same people relax, grab a cup of coffee (yes, there’s often free coffee and baked goods available while you shop), and chat with the volunteers like old friends. The stigma disappears. Instead of feeling like a statistic or a charity case, people feel human again – connected, cared for, and able to care for their own families. That sense of dignity and community is harder to measure than pounds of food, but it might be the Food Market’s greatest accomplishment.
Hunger Close to Home: Why This Market Matters for Hastings and Beyond
Hastings might seem like a comfortable suburban community, but hunger and poverty are very much present here. In fact, approximately 5.6% of Hastings residents – about 1,200 people – live below the federal poverty line datausa.io. And many more are just above it, struggling with the rising costs of housing, groceries, and gas. Dakota County’s latest community health assessment identified food insecurity, housing, and income as the top concerns among residents co.dakota.mn.us. It’s not hard to see why. From 2021 to 2022, visits to food shelves in Dakota County increased by 99% – nearly doubled in one year co.dakota.mn.us. Families who never imagined needing help found themselves in pantry lines due to job losses and inflation. Notably, the largest spike was among senior citizens (a 145% increase in food shelf use by older adults) co.dakota.mn.us, many of whom live on fixed incomes that haven’t kept up with soaring expenses. And when pandemic emergency measures ended in 2023 – particularly the extra SNAP (food stamp) benefits – local food shelves saw another rush of demand co.dakota.mn.us.
Many families in our community can’t always afford the fresh produce their kids need. Roughly one in four students in Hastings Public Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and at Hastings Middle School the figure rises to one-third of students. NicheNiche Basic Needs Food Market and similar programs make sure children still get nutritious food after the bell rings. Images by HastingsNow.com/ashley
One of the biggest concerns is children’s nutrition. In Hastings Public School District 200, about 22.7 percent of students come from families whose incomes are low enough to qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. At Hastings Middle School alone the share climbs to roughly one-third of students (26 percent free + 7 percent reduced). During the school day those kids can count on healthy breakfasts and lunches—as Minnesota’s 2023 “Universal School Meals” law now guarantees—but evenings, weekends and summer break still leave painful gaps. That’s where Basic Needs Food Market and similar programs step in, making sure children stay nourished year-round. Niche Public School Review MPR News “We see a lot of families with school-age kids visit the food shelf especially during school breaks,” says Amy Sutton, Executive Director of Hastings Family Service (Hastings’ own longstanding food shelf agency). “It can be really hard to fill that gap when the school cafeteria is closed.” This is where Basic Needs Food Market has become a crucial resource for the broader region. It doesn’t have geographic restrictions, so Hastings families are welcome to use it, supplementing the help they might get locally from Hastings Family Service or other programs. The Market’s focus on fresh, perishable foods is also complementary – it provides fresh fruits, veggies, dairy and meats in abundance, items that can be expensive for families on tight budgets but are vital for children’s health.
Recent data on hunger underscore the importance of efforts like these. Statewide, 1 in 4 Minnesota households with children is now food-insecure, according to a 2025 report by Second Harvest Heartland minnesotareformer.com. That means a quarter of families struggle to put food on the table at some point each year. Even with government and charitable aid, not everyone is getting enough to eat – about 5% of Minnesota households (that’s roughly 1 in 20) report ongoing hunger where adults or kids skip meals due to cost minnesotareformer.com. In 2023, Minnesota’s food shelves recorded 7.5 million visits, the most ever minnesotareformer.com. Locally, Hastings Family Service saw demand reach unprecedented levels as well. “In 2024, HFS provided food assistance over 20,000 times to individuals and households and we anticipate this growing in 2025,” Ms. Sutton noted hastingsfamilyservice.org. These numbers are sobering, but they also highlight how communities are responding with unprecedented levels of support.
Basic Needs Food Market’s role in this broader fight is both practical and inspiring. Practically speaking, it has added another safety net for our area, catching people who might not qualify for other assistance. (It’s estimated that nearly 30% of food-insecure Minnesotans don’t meet the strict income guidelines for federal nutrition programs like SNAP co.dakota.mn.us. Those folks often rely on community resources like food shelves.) The Market is also open when others might not be – for instance, it has some evening hours on Wednesdays until 5:30pm basicneedsmn.org, accommodating working parents. And unlike traditional pantries that might limit visits to once a month, Basic Needs lets families come as often as needed basicneedsmn.org, ensuring food is continuously accessible.
On the inspiring side, the Food Market sets a new standard for how we treat people in need. It moves away from the old model of charity as a one-way transaction and toward a more compassionate community exchange. Neighbors who shop there often become volunteers or donors when they get back on their feet – we’ve heard stories of a dad who visited during a layoff and later returned to donate fresh vegetables from his home garden, paying the help forward. It’s helping erase the stigma around needing help, by inviting everyone in the community to participate either as a giver, a receiver, or sometimes both. In this sense, Basic Needs Food Market is not just filling stomachs; it’s also building solidarity in Hastings, Cottage Grove, and surrounding communities.
Looking Ahead: A Future of Full Plates and Open Arms
As the Basic Needs Food Market celebrates its one-year anniversary, the team isn’t resting on their laurels. Executive Director Opey Peñaloga, who took the helm of the organization in 2024, is busy plotting the course for year two and beyond. At a recent fundraiser dinner (“Pasta for a Purpose,” held at a local restaurant to support the market), Peñaloga reflected on the journey so far. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the first anniversary of the Basic Needs Food Market and all the hard work, dedication, and collaboration that made this milestone possible,” he said basicneedsmn.org. Surrounded by volunteers and supporters twirling spaghetti on their forks, he continued: “From our amazing volunteers to our business partners and community supporters, every effort has been essential in rescuing food and getting it to those who need it most. Pasta for a Purpose is more than a fundraiser; it’s a chance for all of us to come together, celebrate what we’ve achieved, and help sustain this mission. We invite you to join us for a night of connection and purpose, and together, let’s continue building a future where nutritious, free food is accessible to all in our community.” basicneedsmn.org That future, if Basic Needs has its way, is one where no child goes to bed hungry and no food goes to waste.
To reach that future, Basic Needs is focusing on sustainability and growth. One big step was transitioning the Food Market to be 100% volunteer-driven and grant-funded, which dramatically lowers operating costs basicneedsmn.org. Every dollar donated goes directly toward acquiring food or necessary supplies, not overhead. The market is also exploring expanding its hours or services if volunteer capacity allows – for instance, possibly opening one evening a week or adding a mobile outreach component. (Imagine a Basic Needs food bus bringing groceries to neighborhoods in Hastings or other parts of Dakota County where transportation is a barrier. It’s an idea that’s been floated, inspired by programs like HFS’s “Market on the Move” van facebook.com.)
The Basic Needs team also plans to keep strengthening partnerships. They’re looking at more ways to collaborate with local farmers, schools, and nonprofits. One pilot program, for example, placed additional fresh food at the Park Grove Library on Wednesdays and Saturdays, essentially creating a mini self-serve food shelf there for anyone who stops by basicneedsmn.org. Given its success, they’re interested in partnering with libraries or community centers in other towns (perhaps even Hastings) to replicate that model. Environmental sustainability remains a priority too – they will continue composting any unusable produce and emphasizing eco-friendly practices (shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusable grocery bags, and the market has recycling programs in place for plastic and cardboard). Basic Needs was honored with the Cottage Grove 2024 Non-Profit of the Year award for its innovation and impact basicneedsmn.org, and it aims to live up to that title year after year.
Perhaps the most important goal for the future is simply to reach more people in need. As word spreads, more families have been making their way to the Food Market. Basic Needs is determined to welcome them all with open arms—and full shelves. That means they’ll need the community’s continued support. Luckily, this community has a generous heart. From Hastings to Cottage Grove to Newport and beyond, everyday folks have shown they’re willing to donate food, money, and time to uplift their neighbors. It circles back to the spirit of Stone Soup: everyone contributing what they can so that nobody goes without. “Basic Needs, a nonprofit organization founded in 1996, formerly known as Stone Soup, uplifts those in the community who have encountered hardship by providing barrier-free access to basic needs…to build a stronger community focused on equity, inclusion, and sustainability,” the organization’s mission statement reads basicneedsmn.org. That mission is in full bloom at the Food Market.
As we look ahead, it’s clear that hunger is a challenge we have to tackle together, but also that innovative solutions are possible. A year ago, the idea of a free grocery store run entirely by volunteers was just a dream. Today, it’s feeding hundreds of families and rescuing thousands of pounds of food from the trash heap. Who knows what another year or two will bring? If community leaders like those at Basic Needs have their way, we might see more “food markets” popping up, more collaborations across city lines, and ultimately fewer people worrying about their next meal. “The growth in demand we are experiencing is unsustainable [without more support],” Second Harvest Heartland’s CEO Allison O’Toole recently warned minnesotareformer.com. But with grassroots efforts like Basic Needs Food Market, regular citizens are stepping up to ensure that support does come—whether through donating a bag of groceries, volunteering on a Tuesday afternoon, or simply spreading the word that help is available.
Call to Action
The Basic Needs Food Market is fueled by community generosity and there are many ways to help. If you have extra produce from your garden or pantry items to spare, or if you want to organize a food drive at your school, Basic Needs welcomes it all. Financial contributions are equally important – every dollar helps purchase staples in bulk or keep the refrigerators running. Visit the Basic Needs Food Donation page to learn how you can donate food, funds, or time. By supporting this cause, you’re not just filling a cart with groceries; you’re feeding hope for a neighbor in need and building a stronger, healthier Cottage Grove and Hastings area for everyone.
