Rachel Nelson doesn’t come to Valley Outreach only for herself. 

She helps friends make appointments. She coordinates rides. And when someone isn’t sure what to expect, Rachel encourages them to take that first step. 

“I’m kind of a coordinator and promoter,” she says with a laugh. 

Rachel first came to Valley Outreach about four years ago after seeing a neighbor return home with a wagon filled with food and other essentials. 

“Hey, where did you go? Can I go?” Rachel remembers asking. 

That simple question opened the door to Valley Outreach. Today, Rachel is helping hold that door open for others. 

“As long as I’m coming to Valley Outreach, I bring people with me.” 

A Place to Feel at Home 

Rachel comes to Valley Outreach for food and visits StyleXchange for clothing, but she says the people are just as important. 

“The staff and volunteers are just very nice. I feel right at home. I feel like I fit right in.” 

At Valley Outreach, we believe every person has intrinsic value and deserves to be treated with dignity, kindness, and respect. For Rachel, that means feeling welcome and knowing the people she sees when she comes in. 

It also means feeling comfortable enough to bring others with her. 

Rachel knows that accessing food assistance for the first time can feel intimidating. A familiar face or trusted friend can make all the difference. 

More Than Food and Clothing 

Rachel’s life has included many chapters and many changes. She’s held several careers, traveled, overcame serious medical challenges, and cared for family members. Today, she lives in a 55-plus community in New Brighton, where she is making new friends and doing what she loves best: bringing people together. 

She enjoys potlucks, picnics, ice cream socials, and church luncheons. She’s always looking for the next opportunity to connect with someone. 

Her latest adventure? Jewelry making. 

Rachel is learning about stones and exploring how she might create and sell her own pieces. It’s one more idea in a life filled with chapters. 

And it gives her motivation. 

“I’m still going. I’m still making plans.” 

Access to food and clothing at Valley Outreach helps Rachel stretch her resources. She can cook with fresh, nutritious food and shop at StyleXchange, while keeping more of her limited budget available for the things she needs—and the things that bring her joy. 

“Life is short,” she says. “We need to have things that bring us joy. Things that get you out of bed.” 

Room for What Comes Next 

Rachel’s story is a reminder that access to basic needs is about more than what people take home. 

Access to food and clothing can help create stability. But stability is only part of what people deserve. 

People deserve connection. They deserve kindness. They deserve opportunities to participate, contribute, and thrive. 

People who come to a food shelf or clothing program are never defined by the services they access. They are community members with histories, talents, relationships, dreams, and plans for the future. 

At Valley Outreach, we work in community with people because we believe stability is the first step to thriving. Sometimes, that starts with food on the table or clothing that helps someone feel comfortable and confident. 

And sometimes, it starts with a friend saying, “Come with me.” 

Because when people have the resources and support they need, there is more room for connection, community, and what comes next.