The next few questions relate to the following:
STATEMENT OF INTENTION: Friends in Need (FiN) has served the St. Paul Park, Newport, Cottage Grove, and Grey Cloud Island communities for the past 24 years. Last year FiN served 29,000 people.The Friends in Need food shelf has recently moved into a new building located behind Carbone’s and Park Place Café in St. Paul Park. Northern Tier refinery in St. Paul Park generously donated $250,000 toward the down payment and is helping with the next nine years of the mortgage. FiN is ramping up its fundraising efforts to pay for the last 20 years of the mortgage (hoping to pay it off in 10) along with ongoing operational costs including utilities, insurance, building and grounds maintenance, etc. FiN is also installing new warehousing infrastructure, a new walk-in cooler and freezer, and a new computerized client-intake system, all of which will enable FiN to more efficiently serve a growing number of clients.
FiN has a fundraising goal to raise $150,000 by February 2017 which can be pledged over the next three years.