Providing food and resources to those in need
February/March 2018
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A Message from the Executive Director
Here we are at the start of another year! We have been in our new building for 1 1/2 years now and have around 170 volunteers.
Last year we served 28,122 people (including 264 new families), provided 440 rides and made 231 deliveries. That totals about 625,059 meals!
MN FoodShare March Campaign
- This important fundraiser starts next week! Please see info below.
Oktoberfest - Oktoberfest was a great success once again! The weather was nice so everyone was able to enjoy the food and activities while helping to raise money for Friends in Need. A big thank you to all of our volunteers, our community partners and Hope Glen Farm for donating the use of their beautiful venue!
Share the Joy -Thank you to everyone that helped with the Share the Joy program this year by donating baskets or adopting families. We helped nearly 500 families. Kris Richard and Kari Parrish are carrying on their mother's legacy by heading up this wonderful program.
Holiday Train -Cottage Grove has now participated in the Holiday Train fundraiser for 15 years and we were able to exceed our goal of raising over $1,000,000.00 total during those years! We especially want to thank all of the schools that participated in the 10 Days of Giving and the Lions Clubs, Thrivent Financial and Red's Savoy, who worked so hard on the Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser! Mary Slusser, Colleen Stelmach and the rest of the Holiday Train Committee spend months making sure this wonderful community event is so successful!
None of these events would happen without the amazing support of this community. We are beyond grateful!
Michelle Rageth
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The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign is gearing up to help replenish food shelves over the next month. FIN is eligible for a partial match from Minnesota FoodShare based on how much money, food and toiletries we collect, so your gift in March will stretch even farther! The March Campaign begins February 26 and runs through March 31.
Money is most valuable, as we can purchase about $10 worth of groceries for every $1 we spend.
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We also welcome donations of toiletries and non-perishable food items which can be delivered to Friends in Need at 535 4th St., St. Paul Park on Tuesdays between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm (at the Volunteer Entrance) or dropped off at the large Food Shelf box in the exit foyer at Cub Foods in Cottage Grove (open 24 hours a day).
To make a monetary donation, you can send a check to:
Friends in Need
P.O. Box 6
Cottage Grove, MN 55016.
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Host Your Own Collection Drive!
You and Your Group Can Make A Difference!
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Would your organization like to host a collection drive to benefit Friends in Need? Be creative and come up with a fun competition!
- Have a contest between departments at work
- See if your pastor is willing to take a pie in the face if the congregation raises a certain dollar amount
- Build a toilet paper tower in your school lobby and see how high it can go
The more crazy the idea, the more fun it is! Cash and toiletries are especially appreciated.
Call Michelle at Friends in Need if you’d like more information: (651) 458-0730. Any company, church, organization, athletic group, school, civic organization, business or corporation that gives more than $100 will get their name on our Community Partner Plaque, which is displayed at FIN, and they will be listed on the yearly Donor Page on our website!
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We Love Our Volunteers
Bob Bowman
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Bob Bowman has volunteered at FIN for the past 11 years. He picks up clients who don't have transportation on Tuesday mornings and brings them in for their appointments. He also goes to Kwik Trip every Monday to get our bread and bananas. As a former art teacher, Bob does an amazing drawing each week in the volunteer break room. It can be an entire State Fair scene, with everything from the animals to the tractors and the carnival rides! Right now, the scene is the Olympics, complete with skiiers, snowboarders, and ice skaters!
Bob is always willing to go all over town to pick up donations and he's very kind to our clients. One time, he came back to the food shelf without his coat. When asked what happened, he replied that he had given it to a homeless client who needed it more than he did. Thank you, Bob, for your years of dedication to FIN.
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Donate Stocks and IRAs to Friends in Need
A Return on Investment Like No Other
Please remember that you can make a direct donation to Friends in Need from your IRA distribution. We also accept stock donations and were recently thrilled to receive $5,000 in 3M stocks.
More people are choosing to include FIN in their estate planning. Interested donors can contact Michelle to discuss their plans and facilitate the transfer. You can also visit the
Donate page on FIN’s website to print off a Stock Donation Form.
Friends in Need
P.O. Box 6
Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Feel free to phone Michelle Rageth or Jill Hughes with any questions: (651) 458-0730.
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Our Vision
Our Mission
Improving lives by ending hunger. Our mission is to provide food and resources
to those in need.
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For more information on how you can support or become involved with the Friends in Need Food Shelf, please call Executive Director, Michelle Rageth, at (651) 458-0730 or email:
director@finfood.org
If you would like to contribute to our work in the community, you may send a check to Friends in Need P.O. Box 6, Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Or visit:
www.finfood.org to use your PayPal account or your credit card (processed by PayPal.)
Thank you!
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The Friends in Need Food Shelf, started in 1992, is a community funded food shelf and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Friends in Need Food Shelf serves the Minnesota residents of Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, Newport and Grey Cloud Island. All donations are tax deductible.
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