The River Food Pantry joined State Representative Melissa Ratcliff, Chef Carmell Jackson of Melly Mell’s Soul Food, and Ian’s Pizza at the Capitol to kick off “The Mac Attack” being featured at Ian’s Pizza.
MADISON, Wis. — December 4, 2023 — From November 28 through December 12, all Ian’s Pizza locations statewide will feature a special new pizza flavor, called “The Mac Attack,” which celebrates the power of collaboration to address food insecurity.
This fall, State Representative Melissa Ratcliff and Chef Carmell Jackson of Melly Mell’s Soul Food teamed up to design this pizza with macaroni and cheese and smoked brisket for The River Food Pantry’s inaugural fundraiser, Sips & Slices, where 300 attendees voted on 10 unique pizzas designed by teams of local chefs and celebrities and prepared by Ian’s Pizza at Garver Feed Mill. “The Mels” won the most votes and the opportunity for Ian’s Pizza to serve their pizza for all to enjoy.
The River Food Pantry joined the winning team and Ian’s Pizza at the Capitol last week to celebrate this special new menu item.
“This pizza means so much to us,” said Rhonda Adams, Executive Director of The River. “Yes, it is absolutely delicious, and we can’t wait for everyone to try it! But, it also serves as a reminder that we can achieve so much by setting aside our differences to work together to support our neighbors in need.”
Thanks to participating chefs, celebrities, partners, and attendees, Sips & Slices raised funds for The River in early October to provide healthy food for local households facing food insecurity. Since then, the pantry has experienced unprecedented levels of demand for food assistance.
“The River Food Pantry is a vital resource for our community,” said Rep. Ratcliff. “Funding for our local food pantries is so important — especially during the holidays when the need is significantly increased — and the need continues to grow. I have and remain committed to advocating for and supporting our local food pantries, who do so much to help eliminate hunger in our communities.”
To date this year, The River has served over 16,000 unique individuals, which is 31% more than in 2022, and broke a new record over Thanksgiving alone. Volunteers and donations of funds, food, and hygiene products are all needed.
“We are grateful to the local chefs and celebrities and Ian’s Pizza for collaborating to help us raise awareness of food insecurity in our community in such a fun way. We hope their efforts inspire others to join in and support the growing number of our neighbors facing food insecurity,” Adams said.
Learn how to support The River this holiday season and beyond at riverfoodpantry.org.
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About The River Food Pantry
The River is South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry. Services include free groceries and freshly prepared meals for pickup or delivery, online grocery orders, mobile meals, and emergency food lockers. The River also redistributes rescued food and resources to local partners to increase access while minimizing waste. Since 2006, The River has grown to serve over 2,500 people every week in pursuit of its vision: a fully nourished community. Learn more at riverfoodpantry.org.