“The River gave my grandson a Christmas I could never give him on my income, and words could not express how thankful I am for their giving hearts.” – Linda

Thanks to our wonderful supporters, The River Food Pantry helps over 1,000 households in Dane County each and every week. We’d like to tell you about one of them: Linda and her grandson, Jackson.

When Jackson was born, Linda stepped in to take care of him, so that her son could work and go to school. Jackson lived with Linda six days out of the week…until she suffered a severe asthma attack that put her in a coma for two months. After becoming disabled and months of rehabilitation, Linda struggled to provide for herself, let alone a toddler. A friend suggested she go to The River.

“I walked in scared and was greeted with a smile and a cheerful hello. I felt welcome, so my fears faded, and I felt right at home,” said Linda. “If The River wasn’t there for us, I don’t know what we would have done. The River supplemented us with healthy foods, clothing, diapers and, above all, security in knowing we wouldn’t go without the necessities for daily health.”

Linda and Jackson started coming here when he was three years old. Now, he is a well-adjusted happy first grader. Linda’s health is better, but she still faces severe asthma and has developed multiple sclerosis. Linda says they both look at The River as a beacon of hope in their lives.

“The River has come to be our family who loves us, and we love them,” Linda said.

As winter comes to Dane County and Christmas and the New Year approach, the demand for our services increases. The River is making an all-out push between now and December 31 to raise the urgently needed funds to make sure that everyone who comes here goes home with a cart full of groceries, clothes for their kids, or whatever resources they need to ease their burdens.

The River is here to help them because you’re here to help us. We hope you’ll consider a year-end tax-deductible gift. With each dollar raised, 96 cents goes toward our services and programs:

• $2,500 buys nutritious, shelf-stable milk for 3,000 children and adults
• $1,000 purchases healthy food for our mobile lunch program for 1 weekend
• $500 provides a community meal on a busy Friday evening for 250 people
• $250 puts a deposit on a sober living home for a Huber volunteer after release from jail
• $100 provides groceries (non-perishable and perishable) for 5 families a week
• $30 provides a complete holiday meal for a local family of up to 8 people

Every day at The River, we see people enter our doors for the first time tentatively, self-consciously, even fearfully, and they leave with a grocery cart filled to the brim, a smile, and the weight of the world lifted off their shoulders. Your generous gift will truly have an impact during this Christmas season at The River Food Pantry and help meet the growing need in Dane County.

The River Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, and your gift is tax-deductible.