WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – If you’re looking for a fun way to satisfy your basketball craving while supporting the community, look no further than the Battle of the Badges, a fundraiser at Park High School in Cottage Grove on Saturday, May 17.

Starting at 4 p.m., public safety officers and the varsity boys and girls basketball teams will pair up for a high stakes battle.

This event will be hosted by Basic Needs Inc., a local non-profit that provides food assistance and support to people facing emergencies and hardships. The event is co-sponsored by the education-supporting non-profit SoWashCo Cares. 

Basic Needs services include a free food market, a thrift store, and access to a network of social services. Other initiatives include a community garden, “food rescues” to prevent food waste, and a voucher program that provides supplies such as clothing, hygiene products and furniture to community members in crisis. 

Increasing Need

During a phone interview, director Opey Peñaloga said that community needs are increasing. 

Basic Needs served over 84,000 people in southern Washington County in 2023. According to Peñaloga, the number of people served in 2024 nearly doubled to over 162,000. 

Most of the people who receive aid at Basic Needs are families with children and the elderly. The fundraiser offers an opportunity to spread awareness, celebrate community togetherness, and show support for those in need.

Firefighters from Cottage Grove, Newport, and the Marathon oil refinery will be competing, as well as Washington County Sheriff’s deputies and police officers from Cottage Grove and Saint Paul Park.

Other participants include State Representative Wayne Johnson, County Commissioner Karla Bigham, and St. Paul Park Mayor Keith Franke. 

Peñaloga is thankful and excited for the Battle of the Badges. Getting commitments from all the participants and coordinating the event was difficult, he said, but its success demonstrates community dedication to helping those in need.

“We’re a group of good people in the community that cares about one another, and we want to support the most vulnerable among us,” said Peñaloga.

Event Tickets

Tickets are available online through the Basic Needs events page, or they can be  purchased at the door. 

If you are interested in learning more about Basic Needs, receiving assistance, or volunteer opportunities, click here or visit one of their locations.