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, including Second Harvest Heartland and The Food Group, 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.

Valley Outreach is supported by a combination of individual giving, grants, and in-kind contributions from the community. This diverse support allows us to sustain our programs and respond to emerging needs.

As shown in our most recent Annual Impact Report, 32% of our funding comes from individual giving, 33% comes from grants, and 29% comes from in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions include donations of food, personal care items, household products, and clothing.

Volunteers are also an important part of our community support, donating 27,527 hours to support our programs and services in the most recent year—a contribution valued at $1,050,445.

Success looks different for every person and family we serve. Because everyone’s goals and circumstances are unique, we measure success in ways that reflect each individual’s needs and progress.

Client feedback is an important part of how we measure our success. We listen to the people we serve to understand their experiences, what is working well, and where we can improve. We also participate in the Minnesota Food Shelf Survey, a statewide survey conducted every three years that gives people who visit food shelves an opportunity to share their experiences and provide feedback.

We also use data to help us understand our impact and improve our services. By collecting only the information we need, we can identify trends, make informed decisions, strengthen our programs, and better meet the needs of the community.

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.