Yes, all are welcome to come to Valley Outreach! We serve everyone in the community in need of food, clothing, and support navigating resources. Learn more in this blog post.

All are welcome to come to Valley Outreach if they need help with food or clothing. We typically serve individuals and families living within 300% of the federal poverty line. Learn more on our Info for Clients page.

Our drive-up donation hours are Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Tuesday/Thursday from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Our service hours are appointment only to help minimize wait times. Monday from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. ,Tuesday/Thursday from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. , and Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Schedule an appointment.) We are closed on Wednesday for in-person services and donations.

People are welcome to come as often as they need.

Our food shelf directly distributes food to people in the community through our SuperShelf. Valley Outreach leverages the buying power of food banks, like Second Harvest Heartland and The Food Group. We purchase food in bulk from both our food bank partners. Through them, we source a variety of foods and ensure we have a consistent inventory of high-demand foods for shoppers.

We trust people to know when they need help and are happy to be here when they do. We know it can be hard to ask for assistance and we try to make it as easy as possible for people to get the basic necessities they need when they do. Read more here.

We help anyone who comes to us in need. Making assumptions based on appearance or material possessions is not helpful nor accurate. We ask that the community remember that appearances don’t always reflect need.

– In some cases, neighbors borrow vehicles to get to Valley Outreach. Some may be locked into car payments they were able to afford while employed but now struggle to meet.

– “Nice” cars in our lot could belong to a volunteer or a donor, or a client may be getting a ride from a friend.
A client’s unique needs may result from health problems, differing ability, age, or another factor not necessarily visible to others.

– For many apparently financially stable individuals, a catastrophic life event or job loss can move them from middle class to teetering on the brink of financial instability in a relatively short time.

– Smart phones are often less expensive than a standard landline.

The team at Valley Outreach is here to help, not to question or pass judgment. We ask everyone else who visits our organization to extend the same compassion.

We rely heavily on volunteers and donors to support all of our programs and help us fulfill our mission. We are a community-powered organization and can only do our work with the generous support of people like you.

Valley Outreach closes for the following holidays every year:
– New Year’s Holiday – Dec. 31, 2024 & Jan. 1, 2025
– Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Jan. 15 2024
– Presidents’ Day – Feb. 19, 2024 (Staff development day)
– Memorial Day – May 27, 2024
– Juneteenth Holiday – June 19, 2024
– Independence Day/Summer Staff Holiday – July 1-5, 2024
– Labor Day – Sept. 2, 2024
– Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday – Nov. 28-29, 2024
– Christmas – Dec. 24 & 25, 2024

We also close for a few days in September (Sept. 26-27, 2024) every year for inventory. Follow us on social media for reminders and closure dates.

We expect people to respect our mission, vision and values statements and our commitment to racial equity and social justice. Learn more on our About Us page. We also have a Respect & Cooperation Policy that clearly outlines expectations and consequences.

Our drive-up donation hours are Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Tuesday/Thursday from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.

We happily accept both as they are important in different ways! Cash donations – in addition to being able to purchase food and clothing items – allow us to maintain our facility and support our staff. In-kind donations – food and clothing – are critical to supporting our mission. Food donations often give us a great variety of items that may be harder for us to purchase – like cooking oil, spices, and other pantry essentials. Donations of gently-used clothing for every member of the family are featured in our StyleXchange program and are in high demand.

We focus on providing people with food, clothing, and personalized support to meet their most immediate needs and only accept donations that directly serve our mission. Volunteer and staff time is precious and sorting through items that don’t support our programs can take them away from helping people who need our services. Our Clothing Donations page has some additional information and links to other programs that may accept items we don’t take.

In-season clothing helps ensure we get the right clothes to Valley Outreach shoppers when they need them most. We also have limited storage space in the warehouse we share with our food programs to store clothes that are out of season.

We want to ensure we’re giving clients high-quality clothing and maximize the efforts of volunteers. On average we process more than 800 clothing items per day – moving them from the donation dock to StyleXchange.

We are required to follow food safety regulations. Safe food handling of frozen and perishable items requires a chain of command for storage requirements. We cannot accept partially used items because we cannot account for the safety of the item once it is open.

Companies use these dates to tell us when they think foods are of the highest quality. However, according to the USDA, these dates don’t matter when it comes to food safety (except for infant formula). Many foods are great long after these dates, especially packaged items like pasta and canned fruit.  Learn more about food safety, Food Facts from USFDA.

Volunteers sort the food donated soon after it is recieved. We take great care to make sure every delicious donation is food shelf ready! First, every item is checked to ensure the “use by” date aligns with the standards in the USDA Foodkeeper app. (A great reference for everyone cleaning out their pantries – the Foodkeeper app shows how long a shelf stable item is good past the date on the package.) Next, each donation is checked to make sure the item is in good condition – unopened, no major dents or leaks, safety seals are intact, etc. Any food that isn’t in good condition is disposed of properly. Once an item is determined to be of good quality, it’s sorted into color-coded bins based on the location it will end up in the food shelf. Then the food goes right to the food shelf floor! (If the shelves are full the food hangs out in our warehouse until there is room.)

Goodwill : Accepts small battery-operated electronics, books, sporting goods, vehicles, bikes, and furniture in good condition. Located in Oak Park Heights and Woodbury.
Savers : Accepts linens, small furniture, media (books, CDs, DVDs), knick-knacks, exercise equipment, and toys. Located in Woodbury.
Bridging : Accepts furniture, small appliances & electronics, and artwork. They will pick it up for a fee.

All are welcome to shop StyleXchange during our open hours! Clients will always have access to free clothing.

We’re thrilled to introduce a groundbreaking pay-what-you-can pricing model. With discounts ranging from 25%, 50% to 75% available at the register, you have the power to choose a price that best fits your budget. This innovative model empowers shoppers to make the most of their budget while supporting the programs at Valley Outreach. The best part is that it’s available to both clients and community members! Everyone can get a deal.

make it easier for both clients and community members to shop at a time that is convenient.

Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Clients will continue to receive clothing for free. Clients will enroll in the StyleXchange program and receive easy-to-use shopping vouchers during a scheduled food appointment. Once enrolled, clients will not need to make an appointment to shop at StyleXchange. They’ll be able to shop when it’s convenient during expanded hours!

At StyleXchange, we’re more than just a thrift store. All StyleXchange sales will be reinvested into Valley Outreach programs. This means that extra inventory can be sold and reinvested into things clients need most – like culturally relevant foods and warm winter gear!

To keep the momentum going and ensure that StyleXchange remains stocked with a variety of clothing options, we rely on donations. We accept new or gently-used in season clothing. For more information on how to donate and our donation hours, visit our donations page.

We also welcome new volunteers. Volunteers run our programs, including StyleXchange. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities to fit your needs within StyleXchange, such as sorting clothing and helping within the store!

If you miss your appointment, you can schedule another one as they are available. There is no penalty for missing an appointment.

One time per month. If you need food between in-person shopping trips, you may come during service hours for a food pickup. No appointment is required for food pick-up.

You may come as often as you need to during regular service hours.

You may shop for someone else if you are a designated proxy shopper. When you come in, talk to a staff member or volunteer in a blue vest to learn more about being a proxy shopper and how the process works to shop for yourself and another person separately.

You can make an appointment for someone else, using their account information. Each shopper must have an account with a unique email and password.

Enter Valley Outreach through the 1911 door. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by a staff member or volunteer in a blue vest and meet briefly with a member of the team during your first visit. They will collect some basic information from you and share more about the programs Valley Outreach offers. If you’d like to enroll in these programs, you may do so at this time. We encourage you to ask questions. Once this brief meeting is complete, you’ll be called to the food shelf to shop. The food shelf is set up like a grocery store with boxes and carts to use to shop. We encourage you to bring your own bag. You may take what you need for your family for many of the items. Please note the signage for the select items that do have limits to help us manage inventory and ensure there is enough for all shoppers.

About 10 minutes.

You only need to participate in a meeting like this with a team member once per year. We conduct these meetings annually to ensure we are compliant with federal food programs and to share important Valley Outreach program updates. You will need an appointment to shop monthly in our food shelf. If you need food between monthly food shopping appointments, you are welcome to do a food pickup – no appointment is needed.

ID and mail are not required; however, bringing an ID is strongly encouraged to help expedite the intake process.

Please do not arrive early for your appointment. Due to the lobby capacity, we cannot allow people to wait inside for their appointments. We will ask you to wait outside or in your vehicle if you come earlier than your scheduled time. We invite you to come at your scheduled time or within 15 minutes after that time (for example, if your appointment is at 2:30, you can come anytime between 2:30-2:45 pm). If you miss the 15-minute window, you will be offered a food pick-up order instead of shopping in person due to our full appointment schedule.

Anytime.

Yes, kids are welcome to shop with their parent or guardian. We ask that you always keep your children with you while at Valley Outreach.

You can take the time you need to shop. An average shopping appointment takes about 20-25 minutes depending on how busy we are.

Yes, you may call 651-430-2739 to make an appointment.

Please call 651-430-2739 or email [email protected]. If you email, please include the name and email address the appointment is currently under and include the name and email address you would like to change it to.

Yes. Shoppers will receive a text upon booking an appointment, and a reminder text before the appointment time. There is a link you may click on within these texts to view an appointment, change the appointment or cancel the appointment.

Volunteers sort the food donated soon after it is received. We take great care to make sure every delicious donation is food shelf ready! First, every item is checked to ensure the “use by” date aligns with the standards in the USDA Foodkeeper app. (A great reference for everyone cleaning out their pantries – the Foodkeeper app shows how long a shelf stable item is good past the date on the package.) Next, each donation is checked to make sure the item is in good condition – unopened, no major dents or leaks, safety seals are intact, etc. Any food that isn’t in good condition is disposed of properly. Once an item is determined to be of good quality, it’s sorted into color-coded bins based on the location it will end up in the food shelf. Then the food goes right to the food shelf floor! (If the shelves are full the food hangs out in our warehouse until there is room.)