Two well-established and respected nonprofits, the Steele County Clothesline and the Steele County Food Shelf are joining forces and will be merging to form one new organization, Community Pathways of Steele County, effective January 1 st, 2020. The merger is the validation of teamwork and collaborative efforts that have been taking place between the Steele County Clothesline and the Steele County Food Shelf over the last few years to better serve individuals, families, and the community. Only after much research of similar organizations, conversations with corporate partners, and evaluation of the impact a merger would bring, the two boards voted unanimously to move forward with the merger.

Community Pathways will continue to be at the current location at 155 Oakdale in Owatonna. Our programs and services will not change through the transition period, but there is great anticipation of new and improved services that can be provided through strategic planning, improved use of resources, and creative thinking. No programs will diminish through this process. In fact, the hope is to improve services to their families. The merger will allow Community Pathways to restructure staff putting
individual skill sets to better use. They will no longer be duplicating the work being done by two separate organizations but will work together to create improved services for their families, and a more efficient and effective organization to better serve the needs of the community.

Along with the organizations’ restructure and name change the program names will also be changing. The Steele County Food Shelf will become The Marketplace and the Steele County Clothesline will be known as Unique Finds. The Marketplace will continue to serve anyone who qualifies for the program. Unique Finds is open to anyone who qualifies as well as anyone interested in shopping regardless of life circumstances - or income. By shopping at Unique Finds you are supporting Community Pathways.

The community has done an incredible job of recognizing basic needs and supporting both organizations over the years. The Steele County Clothesline was originally started by the Women’s Club of Owatonna in 1963 to serve the children of the State School. The Steele County Food Shelf found its roots in 1970 when several churches in Steele County decided to start food closets to serve the needs of their members. As the organizations and the needs grew in the county, both organizations moved to the current location in 1999 where people could access resources and there was adequate physical space to accommodate the growing needs. We hope the community will once again recognize the ever-growing and changing public needs and support the organizations as we merge to provide improved services, efficiencies, access, sustainability, and additional programming.