Friends in Need Food Shelf

Supporting the Community with Community Support since 1992!

Founded in 1992, Friends in Need (FiN) is a 501(3)(c) community food shelf located in St. Paul Park, MN. In our mission to end food insecurity in our communities, we serve households in need throughout the Twin Cities area. With a primary focus on St. Paul Park, Newport, Cottage Grove, and Grey Cloud Island, we currently have clients from Washington, Dakota, Ramsey, Hennepin, Anoka, and Goodhue counties. 

Some facts about FIN:

• 99% volunteer operated with over 125 individuals donating their time each week
• An average of 275 - 290 households served each week, with numbers peaking at 350 weekly households during the SNAP benefit freeze
• Over 1.2 million pounds of fresh food, non-perishables, and toiletries distributed annually
• Over 50% of our operating budget comes from business and community donors and grants
• Everyone is welcome; we turn no one in need away!

Your monetary donations make a difference.  Because we purchase most of our food from Second Harvest, we are able to stretch each dollar up to ten times.  We are so grateful for your support!

Together We Can Make a Difference!

A Tree Grows in St. Paul Park ...

Over ten years ago, a seed was planted at FiN. The idea of thanking donors has now blossomed into a beautiful tree covered with multi-colored leaves and spanning multiple walls. in 2025 alone, more than 400 leaves enscribed with donor names were added. We are grateful to all our donors for their generosity and continued support. Donations are recognized on our Giving Tree as follows:

• Gold Leaf: $100-$999
• Larger Copper Leaf: $1,000-$4,999
• Small Rock - $5,000-$9,999
• Large Rock - $10,000+

Donate now to become a FiN supporter and help our tree continue to grow!