Food, resources and faith to build a stronger community is what The River has offered the community for the past twelve years and what we will continue to offer until we achieve our vision of a fully nourished community. Humans require sustenance in body, mind and spirit to be fully nourished. People also require stable households in which to move, grow, and thrive. We will continue to stretch ourselves to provide healthy and nutritious food to anyone who needs it, while setting the table for onsite collaborative programming that addresses four areas of household stability — food, housing, health, and work/life. The hopes, dreams and aspirations of the community and the family that make up The River are represented here as our mission, vision, core values and guiding principles.

Our year-long planning process, based in appreciative inquiry, included the voices of hundreds of individuals representing all stakeholders groups; clients, volunteers, donors, board, staff, community partners, community members and community leaders.

We invite you to join us in making our shared vision a reality.

Charles P. McLimans and Jennifer Zisser
President/CEO and Board Chair

in a foundation of faith and place faith at the center of everything we do.

that food is a right and not a privilege.

in nourishing our community in body, mind and spirit.

in creating a servant-hearted community and that the opportunity to serve is a gift.

in abundance, all is given to us as a gift, and through the beauty of sharing all will have enough.

in a culture of philanthropy, and through the generous sharing of our gifts and talents we build up one another and our community.

by working together we will end hunger and build a stronger community.

Valuing each other as we value ourselves through listening, example, collaboration, and trust.

Nourishing and serving with loving hearts for one another.

Embracing togetherness through sharing, caring, loving and accountability to each other.

Kindness displayed with affection and love, expecting neither reward nor recognition.

Embracing all with resources, community and compassion.

We aspire to be an enhanced builder of community, extending our core values, working collaboratively to achieve a vision where everyone is nourished in body, mind and spirit.

GOAL | Be a leader in ending hunger and promoting household stability through a client-centered approach and innovative engagement with our community.

GOAL | Refocus, reframe and refresh our brand to create greater community awareness of our mission, vision, core values and enhanced role.

We aspire to grow as the leading direct provider of healthy and nutritous resources for food insecure households throughout Dane County, and collaborate to promote household stability, addressing the root causes of food insecurity.

GOAL | Stabilize, strengthen and enhance our food supply chain.

GOAL | Establish onsite partnerships and programs focusing on four sectors of household stability: Food, Housing, Health, and Work/Life.

We aspire to create best-in-class operations and a holistic service hub that reflects and embodies The River’s mission, vision and values.

GOAL | Engage a facilities committee of subject matter experts, volunteers, and clients who will advise, research, plan and acquire a new facility.

GOAL | Optimize and enhance the welcoming nature of the current facility through expanded hours, enhanced flow and modeling of our core values.

GOAL | Become a holistic services hub.

GOAL | Extend our care for community to care for the earth and environment.

We aspire to become the organization of choice for volunteers, donors and employees championing nourishment and household stability.

GOAL | Create an organizational culture and environment that embodies our core values.

GOAL | Elevate as a leading organization of choice for individuals and families to volunteer their time and talents.

GOAL | Be one of the leading charities within Dane County.