At Valley Outreach, our top priority is to make sure good food goes to people who need it. Our goal is always to put fresh, nourishing food directly into the hands of those in need, and when we aren’t able to do that, use the strong sustainability practices in place to handle spoiled or expired food. Last fiscal year, we composted 44,588 pounds and gave 121,729 pounds to our farmer partners to feed their livestock. For comparison, we had 12,798 pounds of trash.
One other important sustainability partnership is our connection with Twin Cities Food Justice (TCFJ). They take food from us that may otherwise be composted or given to farmers but is still able to be distributed to food shelf clients. Last fiscal year,TCFJ redistributed 13,550 pounds of food from Valley Outreach to other food shelves. That’s even more pounds than our total trash for the last fiscal year, and our partnership with TCFJ began more than half-way through the fiscal year in June 2025 – just four months!
About Twin Cities Food Justice
Twin Cities Food Justice (TCFJ), a Minneapolis-based nonprofit, works to reduce food waste and hunger across the Twin Cities. Since November 2015, TCFJ has grown into a vital link between surplus food sources and those who need it most.
At the heart of Twin Cities Food Justice’s work is their food rescue program – something we do and support, too! Their program involves coordinating weekly food rescues of fresh produce, breads, and other nutrient-rich foods from sources like co-ops, grocery stores, farmers markets, and now Valley Outreach, that otherwise would go to waste. Volunteers collect, sort, and deliver these items to local hunger relief organizations, free of cost to both donor and recipient.
By connecting these dots, Twin Cities Food Justice ensures that high-quality food nourishes families instead of being discarded.
How Our Partnership Works
This partnership has already made a big difference. Valley Outreach closes on Wednesdays and weekends, with Wednesdays dedicated to restocking our food shelf. During that time, some perishable items may not last until our next open day. Instead of going to waste, TCFJ steps in to collect that food and deliver it to other hunger relief organizations within Second Harvest Heartland’s Network.
The process is simple: our team identifies food that may not last until our next open day, and TCFJ volunteers arrive promptly to pick it up. From there, we deliver it directly to community partners who can distribute it quickly on days we are closed.. This means produce that might have spoiled is instead shared with families in need—sometimes just a few hours later.
A Shared Mission
We’re grateful for this collaboration and for the shared belief that everyone deserves access to good food. Together, Valley Outreach and TCFJ are not only fighting hunger, but also strengthening the community and caring for the environment.
Every rescued meal tells a story: of neighbors looking out for one another, of volunteers, giving their time and energy, and of organizations coming together to build a healthier, more sustainable future. This is what partnership looks like, and we’re proud to be part of it.
Get Involved Today!
You can be part of this impact. If this partnership inspires you, take action and help move this work forward. Whether you choose to volunteer, spread the word, or support our efforts in other ways, your involvement helps ensure that good food reaches the people who need it most. Together, we can keep nourishing our community—one rescued meal at a time.
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