River Valley Charities

No child in the St. Croix Valley should go hungry.

Together, we can make sure they don't.

Who We Are

River Valley Charities connects and works alongside local nonprofits, schools, and partners to ensure children and families have access to consistent, nutritious food — not just during the week, but when they need it most.

Since 2017, we’ve invested over $800,000 directly into local programs that feed kids, support families, and strengthen our communities.

We meet families where they are — providing food today while building pathways to long-term stability and stronger systems for tomorrow.

Impact

• 🥕 Expanding fresh produce access for ~52,000 food shelf visits
• 🎒 Strengthening local backpack and food programs across the St. Croix Valley, some relying on RVC for up to 100% of their annual funding
• 🌱 Supporting the Farm at Camp St. Croix to grow thousands of pounds of fresh, local food
• 📘 Expanding access to our free financial literacy program to help families build long-term stability

Behind these numbers are programs doing critical work every day in their communities. Many of the backpack programs we support are led by teachers, social workers, and small community groups — often with no public funding and limited capacity to fundraise on their own. 

Without that support, many of these programs would not exist. As the need continues to grow, they rely on River Valley Charities to help ensure kids have food outside of school.

A gift to River Valley Charities helps strengthen and sustain these programs across the region — expanding impact far beyond what any one organization can do alone.

Fresh Food. Real Results.

River Valley Charities has been a leading partner in the Farm at Camp St. Croix since its early development — helping bring the vision to life and continuing to serve as its largest financial supporter.

Today, that partnership is delivering real results.

Each week, the farm donates 75% of its harvest to River Valley Charities, and we work with local food shelves to ensure fresh, locally grown produce reaches families across the St. Croix Valley — more than 8,000 pounds each year.

This means kids and families aren’t just getting enough to eat — they’re gaining access to the kind of fresh, nutritious food that supports healthy growth and long-term well-being.

Beyond Food

We believe food insecurity is often a symptom of deeper challenges — and solving it means going beyond food.

In response to what we’ve heard from families and partners across our network, River Valley Charities has developed and continues to expand a free, one-on-one financial mentorship program.

This isn’t a class — it’s personalized support. We work alongside families to build skills like budgeting, saving, and planning for the future in a way that fits their real lives.

The impact is already clear in just under two years. Families have paid down debt, built meaningful savings, and even qualified for homeownership when they didn’t think it was possible.

Many of the families we serve are working hard but living paycheck to paycheck — without access to the tools or guidance needed to build financial stability.

Because lasting stability starts with knowledge, support, and opportunity.

Stronger Together

River Valley Charities was built on a simple idea: no single organization can solve hunger alone.

That’s why we’re leading efforts to bring together food shelves, backpack programs, schools, public health, and community partners across the region — creating space to share resources, solve challenges, and strengthen the systems families rely on.

Through initiatives like our Emergency Food Systems group and Backpack Program Roundtables, we’re helping partners connect, collaborate, and find better ways to serve families with dignity and impact.

Because when communities work together, families don’t fall through the cracks.

And because we’re not tied to a single program or location, we’re able to take a broader view — helping identify gaps, bring partners together, and support solutions that strengthen the entire system of care for families in our region.

Powered by Community

Much of this work is made possible through the support of our community — from individual donors and business partners to the events that bring people together around this mission.

From the Coldest Night of the Year walk in February to our annual golf tournament in June and the Fury Motors & OTCS Car Show in August, these efforts help fuel the programs, partnerships, and progress happening across the St. Croix Valley.

Be Part of the Solution

A gift today helps fund meals, fresh food, and long-term support for children and families right here in the St. Croix Valley.

👉 Give what you can
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👉 Help us make sure no child goes hungry this weekend

Together, we can build a stronger, more connected community where every child has the chance to thrive.