Volunteer

Food Market volunteers help provide barrier-free, dignified access to food for those in need in our community. Volunteers collect food rescue from stores in the area, sort food at the market, restock, and provide customer service. Join us to make this addition to our community a success!

Thrift Shop volunteers are key to helping the community! Volunteers accept, sort, and display donations to ready them for purchase. Find your volunteer home here! 100% of Thrift Shop purchases support our mission.

Food rescue volunteers ensure nutritious food does not go to waste by picking up donated food from local grocers and transporting it to the Food Market in Cottage Grove. Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and current insurance and sign our food rescue agreement.

Do you like planning and organizing events? Do you like talking with folks who support the mission of Basic Needs? We need you! Planning fundraisers, working at events, helping in the office, and thanking donors for their support are all ways you can help.

Every year from May until October, we need volunteers to plant, water, weed, and harvest fresh produce from our Newport, MN gardens. The produce goes to the free Food Market to provide fresh produce to those in need. If gardening is your talent, this may be for you!

Have a talent for fixing or repairing? Like to clean? We can use your help! Our three locations often need repairs and need regular cleaning. If you can help, join our volunteer team!