For Youth

Supporting our community is the reason Valley Outreach is here.

A temporary service model is currently in effect.

We are not currently onboarding new volunteers. With limited programming and our commitment to following CDC guidelines, we’ll be operating with fewer people for the time being. We appreciate all the interest in volunteering right now. It’s truly wonderful to see people looking out for their community. 

If you would like to volunteer with us later this year, we encourage you to apply online.  We anticipate a high need for volunteers when our operations get back to full strength and will likely call you later this spring.

We are not currently accepting food or clothing donations. Our building is closed to the public at this time, including our StyleXchange program. 

We are accepting financial donations online.

We welcome young volunteers. Valley Outreach currently works with youth groups, summer camps and scout troops. Please review the guidelines below and call 651-430-2739 or email volunteer@valleyoutreachmn.org  to discuss youth volunteer opportunities. 

General Age Guidelines for Youth Volunteering

Because much of our volunteer work is completed in a warehouse environment, the safety of youth volunteers is paramount. Please adhere to the following age requirements for youth volunteering. 

Age Guidelines for Volunteering

Age
Supervision Needed
Volunteer opportunities available
Age
Age 8+
Supervision Needed
Parent or Guardian
Volunteer opportunities available
Snack Pack only
Age
Age 14-15
Supervision Needed
Parent or Guardian
Volunteer opportunities available
Sort clothing, Pack the Racks
Age
Age 16+
Supervision Needed
No Parent or Guardian Needed
Volunteer opportunities available
Host clients in Food Shelf and Clothing Closet, sort clothing, Pack the Racks

Youth Group Volunteering

The same general age guidelines listed above apply for young volunteers in a group. Groups with people ages 8-15 may not exceed 10 per group. A final determination will be made by the volunteer manager and program staff manager to ensure the safety of the young volunteers. 

Youth to Adult Ratio

Age
Ratio
Age
8-10 years
Ratio
2 youth to 1 adult
Age
11-15 years
Ratio
5 youth to 1 adult
Age
16-17 years
Ratio
10 youth to 1 adult

Youth Individual Volunteering

Youth ages 14 to 17 who want to volunteer must follow the volunteer application process. To make sure youth volunteer expectations are clear, parents or guardians are required to attend volunteer orientation with their child or schedule a brief call with the volunteer manager. 

Valley Outreach

Valley Outreach

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