Our story
Awarded the 2022 Non-Profit of the Year by the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce
Our Mission is to support the basic needs of those in our community, such as housing, food, clothing, and coordinated services.
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.
“For Basic Needs, success is seeing our clients receive the support they need, instilling self-confidence, empowering them, and helping them achieve self-sufficiency.”
— Vickie Snyder, Executive Director of Basic Needs Inc.
HISTORY
Basic Needs is a non-profit organization established in 1996 to aid individuals and families in need within our community. Our first step was opening a community-based thrift store, where the general public donates their gently used goods for resale, which helps support programs to help the community and offers affordable shopping. From money earned at the Thrift Shop, Basic Needs created a voucher system so that individuals experiencing poverty can receive emergency access to needed supplies.
Most recently, Basic Needs began providing barrier-free access to food in the community through stocked free food shelves. A team of volunteers and staff work together to ensure those in our community have what they need; when they need it. We look forward to opening the Basic Needs Food Market in 2023 to better meet the community's needs.
Our driving goal 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.
