Stepping Stones marked its 39th anniversary in 2025. The organization, originally called Interfaith Volunteers, began in 1986 when several local churches, concerned about the unmet needs of elderly residents in Dunn County, began what is now known as the Community Connections Program.  

Volunteers were linked to seniors and people with disabilities to provide services which enabled them to live independently as long as possible.

In 1994, community leaders began investigating the need for a homeless shelter.  This resulted in the opening of the first Stepping Stones Shelter, offering transitional and emergency shelter, case management, and housing referral services.  In 2014, in order to address increased need, we expanded the shelter program to an additional location so more people could be served.

In 1996, the organization's third program, the Food Pantry, began to offer free food to low income households.  Initially, the pantry was located in the basement of the Broadway shelter as a compliment to services already provided there, but growing demand required successive moves to larger facilities. Since 2011 the pantry and Stepping Stones’ offices have been located at 1602 Stout Rd., Menomonie.  This space is over twice the size of the previous one and positions Stepping Stones to serve the community for many years to come.