As a new school year gets underway, students are heading back to the classroom, setting new goals, and making plans for the year ahead. Whether you’re looking to gain professional experience, complete a class assignment, earn volunteer hours or give back to the community, Valley Outreach offers a variety of ways for students to get involved.

From internships and volunteer opportunities to interview assignments and student-led donation drives, there are many ways to connect what you’re learning in the classroom to real-world work in the community.

Internships

For college and graduate students, an internship at Valley Outreach can be an opportunity to put classroom learning into practice.

Valley Outreach partners directly with several Master of Social Work programs, including St. Thomas, St. Kate’s, the University of Minnesota, Augsburg, and St. Mary’s. Interns gain real-world, career-related experience while being part of a knowledgeable team doing mission-focused work.

Internships can be especially valuable for students interested in social work, human services, nonprofit work and other fields focused on supporting individuals and families.

Interview Assignments

Throughout the school year, students reach out to Valley Outreach with questions for class projects, research assignments, and interviews. Our Student Resources page is a great place to start, with organizational highlights and answers to some of the most common questions we receive from students. Our comprehensive FAQ page is another useful source of information, and you can search our website using the magnifying glass icon near the upper-right corner of the navigation menu.

If you still have questions, 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.

Volunteering

Volunteering is another great way for students to get hands-on experience while supporting their community. Valley Outreach welcomes youth volunteers to help with the Food Shelf and in StyleXchange, our clothing program and thrift store. Students can volunteer individually or as part of a school, youth group, or other organized group.

Much of our volunteer work is completed in a warehouse environment, so the safety of youth volunteers is paramount. Please review the following age requirements:

• Ages 15 and up: Teenagers can volunteer independently in the food shelf, warehouse, and clothing programs. A parent or guardian is not required.
• Ages 12–14: Youth can volunteer in the food shelf and clothing program with parent or legal guardian supervision.

It’s easy to get started as a volunteer with Valley Outreach by filling out the Valley Outreach Volunteer Application. Questions? Reach out to our Volunteer Manager at [email protected] or give us a call at 651-430-2739.

Donation Drives

Students don’t have to come to Valley Outreach to make an impact.

Hosting a donation drive at your school, club, team or student organization is a great way to bring your community together around a shared goal. A drive can collect food, household essentials, or clothing to help support people in the community.

Our Hosting a Drive Toolkit has everything you need to get started, including tips for planning and organizing your drive. If you have questions, contact Debbie at [email protected] or call 651-342-5569.

Find the Opportunity That Fits You

Students bring valuable energy, curiosity, and skills to the work happening at Valley Outreach. Whether you’re volunteering, completing an assignment, gaining professional experience or organizing a drive, your involvement can make a difference.

Whatever your goals are this school year, there’s an opportunity to get involved and make a difference in your community.