Basic Needs of MN

04/03/2026

04/03/2026

✨🏆Founder's Award Announcemen🏆

Basic Needs Inc. of South Washington County is thrilled to announce the recipient of our 2026 Founders Award: Dr. Cheryl Jogger!

Established in 2025 to honor the legacy of our founder, Majel Carroll, this award recognizes the visionaries among us who start something from nothing to serve our neighbors with dignity. Cheryl’s leadership as the founder of SoWashCo CARES embodies this pioneering spirit.

From the Skoolie Bus summer meal program to essential clothing drives for families in transition, Cheryl’s work is the heart of "Our community helping our community." She has built a lasting legacy of care that ensures no child or family in our district is left behind.

Please join us in celebrating Cheryl’s servant’s heart and her unwavering dedication to South Washington County!

04/01/2026

ANSWER: It is a boiled egg cracker/peeler. Put the egg in and shake!

03/31/2026

03/31/2026

✨🩵What an incredible evening celebrating 30 years of impact! We did it together!

Because of your generosity, together we raised an incredible ✨$45,829✨ to support Basic Needs and our mission of providing food, basic essentials, and hope to our neighbors.😊🩵

We were also honored to recognize this year’s award recipients:

🏆 Volunteer of the Year: Thrift Shop Inventory Manager, Lori Johnson, & Food Market Operations Manager, Tracy Klika.

🏆The Majel Carroll Founder’s Award: Cheryl Jogger, PhD, SoWashCo CARES

🏆 Community Partner of the Year: Van Meter Inc.

Thank you to our amazing gala, guests, sponsors, volunteers, auction donors and bidders, Wine Wall supporters, Princess Paula for serving as our wonderful emcee, Christopher Fomby (R&C Photography), River Oaks staff for helping make the night unforgettable, and Majel Carroll, whose vision and legacy made this milestone celebration possible.

A special thank you to our sponsors!🩵

Diamond Sponsors:
💎Van Meter Inc
💎Marathon
💎King of Kings
💎Bob & Judy Horn

Gold Sponsors:
✨Old National Bank
✨Merchants Bank
✨Cottage Grove Lions Club
✨King of Kings - Men’s Retired Group
✨MN Rep. Wayne Johnson
✨Marie Elmer
✨Vickie Synder

Silver Sponsors:
🥈Big Frog Custom T-shirts & More
🥈Woodbury Community Foundation

Bronze Sponsors:
🥉Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
🥉Beem light Sauna

Wine Wall Sponsor:
🍷Belle Ame Wineyard

Dessert Sponsor:
🧁Bob & Judy Horn

A heartfelt thank you to River Oaks Events Center, Sue Newman, and our incredible Basic Needs volunteers for the countless hours, care, and hard work that made this celebration possible.🙏🩵

Thank you to everyone who helped make our 30th Anniversary Gala such a meaningful celebration. 🙏🩵Here’s to the next 30 years! 🎉🩵

📸View more photos from the evening here: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCPz4v

📽View our gala impact videos here: tinyurl.com/BasicNeedsImpactVideos

Stay tuned… photo booth pics are on the way! 📸💃🏾

03/30/2026

03/28/2026

03/26/2026

✨🍷Thank you to our Wine Wall Sponsor, Belle Ame Vineyard🍷✨

Your support helps fuel our mission and ensures Basic Needs can continue serving neighbors across South Washington County. You truly helped make our 30th Anniversary Gala unforgettable!

Planning a wedding, celebration, or special event? Be sure to check out Belle Ame Vineyard Belle Ame Vineyard. From its scenic vineyard views to its full kitchen + bar and elegant event spaces, it’s a beautiful setting for any occasion.

Kitchen + Bar + Weddings + Events — all in one incredible venue.

🎉 30th Anniversary Gala
📅 March 26 | ⏰ 5:00–8:30 PM
📍 River Oaks Golf Course and Event Center

🎟️ Tickets are SOLD OUT, but you can still donate to support our gala here:
➡ https://givebutter.com/c/2026BNgala

💥 Bonus impact: Gala donations will be proportionally matched through the MN FoodShare Campaign — making your gift go even further!

03/26/2026

03/25/2026

✨🩵Thank You to Our Gala BRONZE Sponsors🩵✨

As we celebrate 30 years of community, compassion, and service, we’re incredibly grateful to our 30th Anniversary Gala Bronze Sponsors:

🥉Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
🥉Beem Light Sauna Woodbury

You help power our mission and make it possible for Basic Needs to continue serving neighbors across South Washington County.🩵

🎉 30th Anniversary Gala
📅 March 26 | ⏰ 5:00–8:30 PM
📍 River Oaks Golf Course and Event Center

🎟️ Tickets (SOLD OUT), but you can still donate to support us here:
➡https://givebutter.com/c/2026BNgala

💥 Bonus impact: Your gala donation will be proportionally matched through the MN FoodShare Campaign, helping your gift go even further!

03/24/2026

Thrivent clients — don’t forget ⏳
Your Choice Dollars® expire March 31.

Direct them today to support Basic Needs and help provide food, essentials, and stability for neighbors in our community.

💥 Bonus impact: Your March donation will be proportionally matched through the MN FoodShare Campaign, helping your gift go even further!

Want to go even further? Explore Thrivent Action Teams and make an even bigger impact.

🔗 Start here: https://www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice

Thank you for helping us serve our community

03/24/2026

✨🩶 Thank You to Our Gala SILVER Sponsors! 🩶✨

As we celebrate 30 years of community, compassion, and service, we’re incredibly grateful to our 30th Anniversary Gala Silver Sponsors:

🩶 Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More
🩶 Woodbury Community Foundation

You help power our mission and make it possible for Basic Needs to continue serving neighbors across South Washington County!🩶🙏

🎉 30th Anniversary Gala
📅 March 26 | ⏰ 5:00–8:30 PM
📍 River Oaks Golf Course and Event Center

🎟️ Tickets (SOLD OUT), but you can still donate to support us here:
➡https://givebutter.com/c/2026BNgala