Elizabeth Stone Named Food Shelf Director at Valley Outreach

Elizabeth (Liz) Stone was recently named Food Shelf Director at Valley Outreach.

“We are extremely pleased to have Liz join our team,” . "The food shelf is a critical service in our community and we are excited to have Liz directing this program.”

Stone comes to Valley Outreach with more than eight years of experience working in basic needs social services, including Adult Basic Education, philanthropy, research and nearly two years working in hunger relief at the Neighborhood House and Dorothy Day Center food shelves.

In 2011, Stone completed a dual master’s degree program in Social Work and Public Policy at the University of Minnesota where her studies focused on public and nonprofit leadership and management.

She has worked with volunteers throughout her career and has a certificate in Volunteer Leadership from the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration; and is fluent in Spanish, has studied and traveled abroad in Latin America as well as South East Asia, and brings significant experience working with diverse populations. 

“I’m looking forward to creatively integrating our new Teaching Kitchen into our food shelf program with the goal of offering more comprehensive services to our clients,” Stone said. “It is an exciting time to be joining Valley Outreach as we develop programs to help our clients improve their situations.”

Demand for the food shelf has increased by 60 percent over the last four years, with an average of 400 families served monthly.

Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at Valley Outreach, located at 1911 Curve Crest Boulevard West in Stillwater, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and noon and between 5 -7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Donations also can be made outside of regular business hours by calling Christy Bevacqua at 651-430-2739.