Internships
As an intern or AmeriCorps volunteer at Valley Outreach, you will be part of a knowledgeable team doing mission-focused work helping people navigate social services to meet their personal goals.
University Internships
For internships, we partner directly with Masters of Social Work programs at St. Thomas, St. Kate’s, the University of Minnesota, Augsburg and St. Mary’s.
From there, we provide undergraduate and graduate-level students an opportunity to complement their studies through real-world, career-related experience that meets the requirements of their academic program.
Ampact – AmeriCorps in Action
AmeriCorps members working at Valley Outreach will gain meaningful experience and meet community needs, specifically as Summer Housing Stability Fellows or a full-year Housing Resource Navigator. Ampact openings will be posted on the Ampact website and promoted on Valley Outreach social media and our Career Opportunities page.
Interview Requests for School
Thank you for thinking of Valley Outreach for your assignment! We’re honored that students are interested in learning about our work. Because we receive a high volume of interview requests from students each semester, we’re unable to schedule individual interviews or respond to customized interview questionnaires by email.
To help with your coursework, we’ve compiled information below that answers many of the questions students commonly ask about Valley Outreach, our programs, and the communities we serve.
Organizational Highlights
- History: Founded in 1983, Valley Outreach has served the St. Croix Valley community for more than 40 years. What began as the St. Croix Valley Food Shelf has grown into a comprehensive nonprofit providing food, clothing, and personalized support to people facing challenging circumstances.
- Mission: We help people move their lives forward through basic needs services and personalized support.
- Who We Serve: Valley Outreach welcomes anyone in need of support. The majority of people we serve live in Washington and Ramsey Counties.
- Core Programs: Valley Outreach has three core programs: the Food Shelf, StyleXchange Clothing Program, and Client Support Services.
- Volunteer-Powered: Volunteers are at the heart of Valley Outreach. In 2024-2025, 811 volunteers contributed more than 27,000 hours of service to support our programs and the people we serve.
- Community Impact: In 2024-2025, Valley Outreach served more than 31,900 individuals, distributed more than 2 million meals, provided 118,000+ clothing items, and delivered personalized support to 280+ households.
Frequently Asked Questions
Valley Outreach has three core programs: the Food Shelf, StyleXchange Clothing Program, and Client Support Services. Through these programs, we provide access to nutritious food, clothing, rental assistance, and personalized services to help people move their lives forward.
Everyone is welcome at Valley Outreach. We serve anyone in the community who needs food, clothing, or support navigating resources. Rental assistance is the only service we provide with specific eligibility requirements. These requirements are based on the funding we receive and may include factors such as where someone lives, household income, and demonstrated need.
Research shows that communities of color, seniors, people with disabilities, unhoused people, and rural residents disproportionally face greater barriers to accessing food (2025 Minnesota Food Shelf Survey vs. State Demographics). According to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 30% of Minnesotans lack easy access to healthy food.
Valley Outreach receives food from three primary sources: 77% is purchased, 20% comes from food rescue, and 3% is donated by the community.
Most of our food is purchased through food banks to ensure we can consistently stock staple items and meet client needs. We also rescue food from local Stillwater retailers—including Cub, Target, Kowalski’s, Great Harvest Bread, and Walmart. These items are often no longer sellable but are still safe and good to eat.
At Valley Outreach, families are welcome to take as much food as they need, with a few exceptions. For certain high-demand items, we may set item limits to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to access those products. Outside of those restrictions, families are encouraged to choose the amount and types of food that best meet their needs.
For food pickups and deliveries, choice is based on category vs. specific items. In these cases, we pack food based on household size to ensure families receive an appropriate amount. Even so, we make every effort to include high-demand items, culturally relevant foods, and options that accommodate special dietary needs whenever possible.
Our needs change throughout the year, but some of our most consistently needed food shelf items include canned fruits & vegetables, spices, oil, canned meats, grains, kid snacks, shelf stable items, cooking essentials, and hygiene & menstrual products. You can see a complete list of our top food shelf needs here.
There are many ways to support Valley Outreach and help us continue serving local families. Financial gifts allow us to respond quickly to community needs and purchase essential items. Donations of food, personal care items, household products, and new or gently used, in-season clothing help sustain our programs. Volunteers play an essential role in supporting our work and helping us create a welcoming experience for the people we serve.
Like many nonprofit organizations, Valley Outreach faces the ongoing challenge of meeting a growing need for services while operating with limited resources. As the cost of housing, food, and other basic necessities continues to rise, more individuals and families turn to Valley Outreach for support. At the same time, we rely on community donations, grants, and volunteers to make our work possible. Balancing increased demand with available funding, volunteers, and in-kind donations is one of our greatest challenges.
Still Have Questions?
Please review our comprehensive FAQ page, which answers many common questions about Valley Outreach, our programs, and how we serve the community. You can also search our website for additional information by selecting the magnifying glass icon on the far right side of the navigation menu, next to the yellow “Schedule Appointment” button.
If, after reviewing these resources, your instructor requires additional clarification, you’re welcome to email us one or two specific follow-up questions. While we can’t guarantee that every question can be answered, we’ll do our best to help.
Contact us at [email protected] or 651-430-2739, and we’ll connect you with the appropriate staff member.
We hope this information is helpful for your coursework. If you’re interested in learning more about Valley Outreach, we’d love to welcome you as a volunteer!
