Regardless of our personal income status very few, if any of us, has escaped the impact of the downturn in our economy.

Unfortunately, we’ve heard it time and time again and know all too well that whether at the pump, the grocery store, or in our daily jobs, our disposable dollars just don’t seem to stretch as far as they used to – particularly for those who, even in the best of times, are living on the edge financially, barely able to make ends meet.

Most notable is the ever-increasing daily demand for food and financial assistance at Valley Outreach in Stillwater. In short, the shelves at the Valley Outreach Food Shelf are sparsely stocked and growing emptier by the day.

Three years ago, we were giving 13,000 pounds of food each month to an average of 178 households. Today, we are providing more than 25,000 pounds of food each month to an average of 278 households and since the first of the year we have twice broken monthly internal service records – serving 291 households in January and 293 households in June.

What makes our service to the St. Croix Valley community even more difficult is the fact that for the first time in our 25-year history, the majority of our food inventory has had to be purchased. Until recently, we were able to rely mainly upon donations of non-perishable food items to keep our shelves stocked. But donations just aren’t keeping pace with demand and unfortunately we must now purchase ($3,000 to $6,000 each month) the majority of our food inventory from Second Harvest – the area food “bank” whose primary purpose is sell and distribute food to local food shelves like Valley Outreach, which in turn, distribute the food on a daily basis to individuals in local communities.

In an effort to restock the shelves at the Food Shelf, Valley Outreach has launched an “Emergency Summer Food and Fund Drive” – rallying support from area churches, businesses, community and civic groups, individuals and charitable foundations.

Several summer events will be taking place within the next few weeks for which Valley Outreach is the charity beneficiary, including the Midwest MOPARS Top 25 All Makes Classic Car Show at Suburban Chrysler in St. Paul on Saturday, Aug. 16, and the third annual Albertson Farm Open House Sunday, Aug. 24.

Donations will be accepted at each of these events.

Donations also can be made at the “Summer Tuesdays” August events in downtown Stillwater. Permanent donation bins are located at the River Market Co-op, Brine’s Market, River Valley Athletic Club, The Daily Grind, Arrow Building Supply and Liquor Time in Oak Park Heights.

Certainly, donations of food and money can be made at the Valley Outreach facility at 1911 Curve Crest Blvd. W. in Stillwater during client service hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. until noon and on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

The St. Croix Valley community has always been very generous in its contributions and support of Valley Outreach programs and now, more than ever, we need your food donations and financial support. Please make it a point to carry a food or cash donation with you whenever leaving your home to frequent Stillwater area businesses that either have or are conveniently located near a donation site. Your benevolence during these trying times is greatly appreciated and desperately needed by your neighbors who we serve.

Jill Greenhalgh and Bob Johnson are Valley Outreach board members.