MADISON, Wis. — February 24, 2023 — The River Food Pantry recently received a local emergency food pantry assistance grant of $111,686 from the Dane County Executive’s Office.
The funding comes at a critical time, given recent announcements that temporary increases to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (known as SNAP, or FoodShare in Wisconsin)—benefits designed to help families cope with the financial impacts of the pandemic—will sunset at the end of February. An estimated 20,000 Dane County residents will be impacted by this change. As a result, local food pantries, including The River, are expecting a surge in the number of people seeking assistance.
“We are extremely grateful to the Dane County Executive’s Office for their continued generosity as a new wave of need begins,” said Rhonda Adams, Executive Director of The River—South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry. “When FoodShare recipients lose their extra pandemic-era dollars to help pay for groceries starting in March, this grant will help The River meet the increased demand for food and essentials.”
The River will use the majority of county funding to purchase more fresh produce, healthy proteins, whole grains, and staple foods for all the pantry’s free programs: curbside groceries, to-go meals, mobile lunches, grocery delivery, online orders, and a Saturday express service. A portion of the funds will also be used to purchase hygiene essentials, such as toiletries, paper products, and cleaning supplies.
“Food pantries nationwide are concerned about having enough food to meet everyone’s needs when the extra federal benefits come to an end this month,” Adams said. “Thanks to generous county funding, The River is better positioned to begin providing more food and essentials at a time when our neighbors need them most. With continued community support, we will continue to nourish Dane County so that no one needs to worry about running out of food.”
Remaining county funds will go toward packaging for meals and groceries, as well as improvements to the pantry’s infrastructure and capacity.
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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, and mobile meals. 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.
Media Contact
Becca Carpenter
Communications Manager
The River Food Pantry
becca@riverfoodpantry.org