August 19, 2016 – Madison, WI. The River Food Pantry is a 2016 recipient of a grant awarded by Shopko Foundation’s Community Charitable Grant Program.  The award of $500 will be used toward The River’s mobile lunch program called Madison Unites to Nourish Children at Home (MUNCH). MUNCH addresses a basic need for both social and educational growth through a mobile, neighborhood program that brings lunch to children and teens every weekend and non-school day. MUNCH is currently bringing lunches every Saturday, Sunday and on non-school days at four north-side neighborhoods. Proper, consistent nutrition for children is vital to their success in school. It is known that the gap in education achievement of children in poverty is large, and the gap is present even before they start school.

“We had one site and served about twenty-five kids on our first weekend of MUNCH,” The River’s Meal Service Coordinator Dani said. “As we are about to go into our twelfth weekend, we now have four sites and serve over one-hundred kids each day. This grant is very appreciated and will help fund the expansion of MUNCH into our next site. Thank you Shopko Foundation!”

Shopko District Manager Ron Davenport and Shopko Managers Jim Sarbacker, Matt Hoks and Mike Blattner presents a $500 check to The River staff.