What Upper Valley MEND does

Upper Valley MEND is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Leavenworth, Washington, that delivers a portfolio of wraparound human services to residents of the Upper Wenatchee Valley, including Leavenworth, Peshastin, Dryden, Plain, Lake Wenatchee, Blewett Pass, Stevens Pass, and Cashmere. Its service lines comprise Community Cupboard (a shopping-model food pantry open six days a week), Financial Assistance for rent, mortgage, utility, and transportation emergencies, the Free Medical Clinic operated at Cascade Medical Center for uninsured and underinsured residents, a Gleaning Program that rescues surplus produce from 40+ local farms and orchards, the Mobile Produce Pantry reaching migrant camps and underserved communities, an Affordable Housing program operating 22 Community Land Trust homes and 31 protected rental apartments, and Das Thrift, a low-cost retail store whose proceeds support the other programs. In 2025 the organization reported Total Income of $2,974,000 and Total Expenses of $2,603,100, served 1,667 food pantry households, 265 medical clinic patients, and 213 financial-assistance families, and mobilized 255 volunteers contributing 9,071 hours.

The organization's business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack combining private donations ($925,500 in 2025), state and federal funding ($540,200 in state grants alone), in-kind contributions ($547,200), program income including rental revenue ($417,700), private foundation grants ($105,300), planned giving through a 34-member Legacy Society, and special-event fundraising via the Upper Valley Empty Bowls festival. All core social services are delivered free of charge with no income or residency verification for the food pantry, while affordable rental units are priced at 60–80% of Area Median Income and Community Land Trust homes are sold at less than half the regional median home price with a 99-year renewable ground lease ensuring permanent affordability. Distribution is direct-to-client through fixed locations and mobile channels, supported by partnerships with Cascade Medical Center, Faith Lutheran Church, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Harvest Against Hunger, Chelan Douglas Community Action Council, multiple grocery chains, and a broad local gleaning farm network.

Underlying operational technology is minimal: the organization runs on a Squarespace-hosted website, email newsletters, Facebook/Instagram outreach, and a ClickandPledge donation portal, with no proprietary platform, app, API, or documented AI/ML capabilities. The competitive position is anchored in a Community Land Trust regulatory structure that locks in permanent affordability, an ecosystem of reciprocal partnerships (hospital space, grocery rescue, farm gleaning, faith community foot clinic), and a 255-volunteer rural delivery network that creates meaningful barriers to entry for new human-service providers in this geography.

Name

Upper Valley MEND

Legal name

Upper Valley MEND

Website

https://uvmend.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Upper Valley MEND is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Leavenworth, Washington, that delivers food assistance, affordable housing, free medical care, financial aid, gleaning, and low-cost goods to residents of the Upper Wenatchee Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leavenworth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: Individual donations from community members, including monthly recurring donations, one-time gifts, and planned giving through wills and estates. Monthly donors provide predictable income for budgeting.
2. Private Grants: Funding from private foundations and charitable organizations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and various local foundations.
3. State Funding: Washington State Department of Agriculture funding for food programs including TEFAP and Farm-to-Food Pantry programs.
4. Thrift Store Sales: Das Thrift store sales of donated clothing and household items, with proceeds supporting all MEND programs.
5. Program Income: Rental income from affordable housing units.
6. Special Events: Upper Valley Empty Bowls fundraiser supporting Community Cupboard.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Upper Valley MEND is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers wraparound social services across the Upper Wenatchee Valley. Its core offerings include the Community Cupboard shopping-model food pantry, a free walk-in medical clinic embedded inside Cascade Medical Center, the Gleaning Program that harvests surplus produce from 40+ farm partners for distribution via the Mobile Produce Pantry, an Affordable Housing Program (Community Land Trust homes and 60–80% AMI rentals), emergency Financial Assistance, and the Das Thrift low-cost retail store. Services are provided free of charge to those in need, with housing priced on an Area Median Income basis to ensure permanent affordability.

Product overview

Upper Valley MEND is a nonprofit community services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing food security, housing, health, and financial stability. The core offerings include the Community Cupboard food pantry (shopping model), Financial Assistance for emergency support, the Free Medical Clinic for uninsured/underinsured residents, the Gleaning Program for produce harvesting, Mobile Produce Pantry for distribution, Affordable Housing through homeownership and rental programs, and Das Thrift thrift store. These programs work together to provide comprehensive support with the stated mission of 'Meeting Each Need with Dignity.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community Cupboard: A shopping model-style food pantry, open six days a week, accessible to anyone in need with no geographical restrictions.
• Das Thrift
• Upper Valley Free Clinic
• Gleaning Program
• Mobile Produce Pantry

Products and services

• Community Cupboard Food Pantry A shopping-model-style food pantry located at 219 14th Street, Leavenworth, open Monday-Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday 11am-2pm. Accessible to anyone in need with no geographical restrictions, using a points-based system based on household size. Served 1,667 households in 2025.
• Financial Assistance Emergency financial assistance program providing rent and mortgage assistance, transportation aid, utility bill relief, and temporary housing solutions for residents of Cashmere or the Cascade School District area. Delivered through licensed social worker Liz Hazen. 213 families received assistance in 2025.
• Upper Valley Free Medical Clinic Weekly free walk-in clinic at Cascade Medical Center, 817 Commercial Street, Leavenworth (Mondays 6:30-8pm except federal holidays). Provides medical evaluation, dental referrals, vision screening, immunizations, diabetic care, and social services referrals for uninsured and underinsured individuals. Served 265 patients in 2025.
• Gleaning Program Harvests surplus produce from 40+ gleaning partners (farms, orchards, backyard growers) for distribution through the Community Cupboard and Mobile Produce Pantry. 176 gleaning events were hosted in 2025 with 403 volunteer hours and 52 different crops harvested, yielding 43,169 lbs valued at $149,518.
• Mobile Produce Pantry Mobile produce-distribution service bringing healthy food directly to migrant camps and high-need communities throughout the Wenatchee Valley using a farmer's market-style setup with a refrigerated van. Served 267 people across 6 events in 2025 and distributed 2,144 lbs of produce.
• Affordable Housing Program Provides affordable homeownership through a Community Land Trust (CLT) model and 31 affordable rental units in Leavenworth. Current home purchase prices are $275,000 (less than half the local median); rentals range from $1,027 to $1,543/month at 60-80% AMI. MEND retains land ownership through 99-year renewable ground leases, ensuring permanent affordability.
• Das Thrift Thrift store at 211 14th Street, Leavenworth, open daily 9am-6pm. Offers low-cost clothing, household items, and other second-hand goods. All sales support Upper Valley MEND programs including the food pantry, free clinic, and financial assistance.
• Free Foot Clinic Monthly free foot clinic at Faith Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 224 Benton Street, Leavenworth. Offers diabetic neuropathy education, toenail trimming, callus reduction, and foot care advice for underserved communities including seniors and people who are unhoused or uninsured.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43,169 lbs of fresh produce rescued from waste and distributed to community members
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Washington State Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides state funding for food programs including TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) and Farm-to-Food Pantry grants. MEND receives food deliveries through Chelan Douglas Community Action Council monthly.
• Harvest Against HungercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership administering Farm-to-Food Pantry program. Provides grants to food pantries to purchase produce directly from local farms, supporting both farmers and food security.
• Cascade Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides space and supplies for the Upper Valley Free Medical Clinic located within the hospital. MEND operates the clinic while Cascade Medical provides the facility adjacent to their 24-hour emergency department.
• Faith Lutheran ChurchsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides fellowship hall space at 224 Benton St, Leavenworth for monthly Free Foot Clinic operated by RN Rebecca Talbot-Bluechel. Clinic serves seniors and underserved populations.
• Local Farms and OrchardistscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner40+ gleaning partners including Josh's Garden, Maverick Farm, Mystic Acres, Radix Farm, Royal Produce, Snowgrass Farm, Stellar Produce, Gibbs Organic Produce, and others who donate excess produce for distribution to families in need.
• Grocery Stores (Dan's Market, Martin's Market IGA, Safeway, Sage Mountain Natural Foods)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery rescue partnerships donating bread, meat, dairy, produce, and ready-to-go meals. In 2025, donated 65,516 lbs combined: Safeway 59,641 lbs, Sage Mountain 3,234 lbs, Martin's Market IGA 1,813 lbs, Dan's Market 828 lbs.
• Chelan Douglas Community Action CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistributes state-funded food (WSDA) to food pantries in the region. MEND picks up weekly allotments from CDCAC in Wenatchee along with other community food drives.
• Rebecca Talbot-Bluechel (RN)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered nurse with 10 years of public health experience in Seattle providing foot care to underserved communities. Partners with MEND to offer monthly Free Foot Clinic for people who are unhoused, uninsured, underinsured, or managing diabetes.
• Marson FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated an empty lot inside Leavenworth city limits and sold 31 rental properties to MEND at below-market price. Ken Marson: 'We decided to do this because it's the right thing for our community.'
• Cornerstone CommunitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing loving home for six adults with developmental disabilities. MEND built the home in 2011 and maintains two seats on Cornerstone's board of directors.
• Upper Valley Empty BowlssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual fundraiser festival where participants decorate bowls and join soup supper. Proceeds support Community Cupboard and local youth through art grants. Celebrating 30th anniversary.
• Cashmere Family DentistrysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDental practice owned by Ryan and Janie Busk providing dental referrals and care to Free Clinic patients. Continues their focus from public health dentistry working with Medicaid/Medicare patients.
• Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistribution partner receiving gleaned produce for seniors. MEND's gleaning program distributes excess produce to this location among others around North Central Washington.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uvmend
• Facebookfacebook.com/UVMEND
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upper-valley-mend

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Upper Valley MEND