Feed the Children will deliver a semi-truck full of food, essentials, toys and books to The River Food Pantry for families in Dane County on Dec. 30.
MADISON, Wis. — December 27, 2021 — The River Food Pantry is partnering with Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, to bring No Hunger Holidays to 400 Dane County families. This event will provide families with much-needed food and essentials Thurs., Dec. 30 at The River Food Pantry (2201 Darwin Rd) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Each family on a first-come, first-served basis, will receive a 25-pound box of shelf-stable food such as cereal, pasta, and canned fruits and vegetables; a 10-pound box of essentials featuring personal-care items such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion; assorted children’s books and toys that will be distributed curbside. In addition, The River will provide trays of fresh produce. One of each per household. No registration is required for families to receive product.
During the holidays, too many people — including almost 17% of Madison residents living below the poverty line — find themselves exhausted and without essential resources. 2021 has been a difficult year for our most vulnerable children and families who have faced widespread hardship and uncertainty because of the pandemic’s far-reaching effects. In the U.S., nearly 1 in 6 children is now estimated to be food insecure.
“The River’s normal pantry distribution is technically closed on Dec. 30 for the holiday,” said Rhonda Adams, executive director of The River. “However, when we heard from Feed the Children about an opportunity to host this special giveaway, we just had to say yes. We are so grateful that Feed the Children chose The River to share this generous donation of food, personal hygiene items, toys and books for our neighbors in need this holiday season.”
No Hunger Holidays is a campaign designed by Feed the Children to feed families during the holidays, as well as bring awareness to the important issue of childhood hunger. With all of this past year’s challenges, we are reminded that it feels good to give. For families who struggle, the holidays can be heartbreaking. Tight household budgets due to high home heating bills and other seasonal expenses mean that many families will not be able to celebrate with food or presents for their kids.
“We believe that no child should go to bed hungry, especially during a time full of warmth, love and sharing,” said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children president and CEO. “But the reality is, millions of children face this hardship every day. Thanks to The River Food Pantry, we are able to help these families rest a little easier knowing they don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from this holiday season.”
Visit feedthechildren.org/NoHungerHolidays for more information about the No Hunger Holidays campaign and how you can participate.
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About The River Food Pantry
The River Food Pantry, serving over 1,000 diverse households each week, is South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry. Our services include free groceries for curbside pickup or delivery, online grocery orders, freshly prepared to-go meals, and mobile lunches for children and adults in low-income neighborhoods. We build community by offering opportunities to serve, donate, and collaborate. We also partner with local organizations to minimize food waste and improve access to reliable sources of food. Since opening in 2006, our vision has always been to achieve a fully nourished community.
Visit riverfoodpantry.org for more information.
About Feed the Children
At Feed the Children, we feed hungry kids. We envision a world where no child goes to bed hungry. In the U.S. and internationally, we are dedicated to helping families and communities achieve stable lives and to reducing the need for help tomorrow, while providing food and resources to help them today. We distribute product donations from corporate donors to local community partners, we provide support for teachers and students, and we mobilize resources quickly to aid recovery efforts when natural disasters strike. Internationally, we manage child-focused community development programs in eight countries. We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships.
Visit feedthechildren.org for more information.
Media Contacts
Becca Carpenter
Communications Manager
The River Food Pantry
becca@riverfoodpantry.org
Samaiyah Islam
Communications & PR Program Manager
Feed the Children
samaiyah.islam@feedthechildren.org