The Free Bodega is a mutual aid pantry with two locations. The Free Bodega originally began inside of Back Pocket Vintage & Thrift Store https://www.backpocketvintage.com in February 2026, as a response to Operation Metro Surge. We have also opened up a Free Bodega inside of the Grief Room. Read more about their organization and mission here: https://www.thegriefroom.com

Please reach out to us at Back Pocket if you are interested in opening up a Free Bodega inside of your business or organization!

Our mission is to provide free essentials like non-perishable foods, snacks, toiletries, pet supplies, hygiene products, self care items, feminine care products, toys, secondhand clothing, art materials, etc. to anyone in need, no questions asked. The Free Bodega is a permanent fixture in our vintage shop, and it thrives thanks to the generosity of our customers and neighbors who contribute to, participate in, and take what they need.

Over the past few months, we’ve been able to feed nearly 1,000 families in the Twin Cities and raise emergency funds to meet the growing demand for groceries. We’ve also received countless physical donations, which help us keep a healthy variety of items in stock. However, to ensure we can always meet the needs of our community, we’re seeking financial support to supplement the Free Bodega with essentials and respond to specific requests from our neighbors. We partner with Burrito Mercado, in our neighborhood, to source as many items to support their businesses while supporting folks in need of food for free. We are currently working on installing a community fridge that will be in partnership with our local mercado and other specialty local food suppliers!

Our goal is to raise $8,000 by end of day on Saturday, May 9th the same day as Riot Mom Art & Self Care Festival! This event is a block party located at the corner of Isabel & Wabasha outside of Back Pocket Vintage, Backstory Coffee & Wabasha Brewing in the West Side of St. Paul. Riot Mom Details <<<click here

We would like to raise a larger sum of money so that we don't have to do SO MUCH small time fundraising each week to keep up with the demand of the Free Bodega! We also want to hard launch our new community fridge at this event and also will be partnering with a local restaurant to bring free hot breakfast burritos at the start the event! We want to keep fresh groceries in stock in our new fridge & hot food pop-ups to happen all summer long, to create a true Bodega experience!

Every donation helps us keep the Free Bodega open and accessible to all. If you’d like to get involved by volunteering, please reach out on our website!

Thank you for helping us build a beautiful mutual aid space that gets a little better every day! The Free Bodega is an essential part of community repair and healing. Mutual aid saves lives!