Once Again Valley Outreach Finishes in Top 10 for Minnesota FoodShare Campaign

For the fifth year in a row, has finished among the top 10 food shelves in the state during the annual month campaign.

Valley Outreach’s community food shelf received 49,048 pounds of donated food and $185,696 in monetary donations during the March campaign—netting 8th place out of 281 food shelves.

“We are extremely grateful for the incredibly generous contributions we received during this year’s March campaign from individuals, students, churches, businesses, and organizations in our community,” Valley Outreach’s Food Shelf Director Cara McLain stated in a news release. “We tried a new approach this year by getting permission from retailers who allowed us to collect donations at their sites. We were fortunate to be able to partner with , , , and to help raise donations.”

In addition, and did special collections.

Valley Outreach's campaign total also included over $35,000 raised during the organization's annual major benefit, , on March 3. More than 250 people attended the sold-out benefit held at the , helping to bring in the highest proceeds ever recorded for the event.

In June, Valley Outreach will receive cash incentive awards—based upon their campaign totals—from Minnesota FoodShare and the Feinstein Foundation.

Last year, Valley Outreach received $11,655 from Minnesota FoodShare and $1,154 from the Feinstein Foundation as incentive awards.

“Every year we greatly depend upon the funds raised and food collected during the annual March Food Share month campaign to carry us through the rest of the year when donations tend to drop off,” McLain said.

Valley Outreach relies exclusively on the support and generosity of St. Croix Valley residents, local area businesses, churches, civic and community organizations and charitable foundations to meet the growing needs of an increasing number of Stillwater residents.

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