Can I receive groceries?
To qualify to receive groceries from The River, you must:
- Meet TEFAP eligibility and income guidelines
- Live in Wisconsin
- Not be permanently living in a household already receiving groceries from The River
Can someone else pick up food for me?
If you are unable to come to The River, you can send someone as a proxy to pick up curbside groceries and meals for you. Please send someone with a dated and signed note stating they can pick up groceries for you. This can also be in the form of a text message or email.
What if I can’t visit The River, but I need food? Will you deliver food to my house?
The River has a free contactless food delivery program, called River Delivers, for those who are homebound and do not qualify for other delivery services! Deliveries are provided up to twice a month and include groceries and other essential items, like diapers and specific dietary options, upon request. See qualifications and sign up for River Delivers here.
Low-income older adults in Madison and Monona may be eligible to participate in our free monthly food delivery program, called Food Bridge. Learn more here.
When will clients be allowed back inside The River to shop for groceries and/or eat a meal?
While we miss coming together as a community, The River no longer has the space available for people to shop for groceries and/or eat a meal.
Throughout the pandemic, The River made significant changes to the layout of the warehouse and kitchen to meet the historic demand for curbside distribution of food and resources. As a result of these changes, it is no longer possible to provide inside grocery shopping and sit-down meals in The River’s current building.
We will continue to distribute weekly groceries via curbside pickup and delivery, offering as much choice as possible. We will also continue to provide freshly prepared to-go meals for the whole household to enjoy at home.
With support from our community, The River will continue to search for a larger space to serve more people, recover more food, and add more resources to lift our neighbors who are facing extra challenges right now.
Thank you for your understanding!
How often can I pick up groceries and meals at The River?
You can pick up groceries once a week. A “week” at The River starts on Tuesday and ends on Friday. You can pick up groceries one time during that period.
FAM (Family At-Home Meals) serves freshly prepared to-go meals Tuesday–Friday. You are welcome to come all 4 days to pick up meals.
Why did I receive groceries that were spoiled or past the expiration date?
- A “Best if Used By/Before” date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
- A “Sell-By” date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
- A “Use-By” date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula.
Do I need to schedule an appointment to visit The River?
There is no need to make an appointment. Simply show up with an ID during our curbside grocery distribution hours and we will get you registered as a new customer.
What if my address or household size changes?
Just let us know and we will make the change!
Do you offer pet food and/or supplies?
We do offer pet food and supplies as often as we are able. Since we rely heavily on donations of these items, we cannot guarantee their availability at any given time. We encourage you to ask for what you need when you visit so we can tell you what is available. We also suggest checking out ePantry where you can view the order form to see if what you need is on it.
Do you give rides?
No, rides home from The River are no longer provided due to COVID-19.
Can The River Food Pantry buy food cheaper than the general public does at grocery stores?
The River is able to purchase food and other goods from wholesale vendors, which means the per-item cost is significantly less than retail prices in grocery stores. We also are intentional about how we spend our food budget by building relationships with local farmers and producers to buy locally as often as possible. Finding the balance of supporting our community both through purchases of significant food and having enough food to serve all who rely on The River takes continuous effort. Our partnerships with a variety of vendors also help when there is a supply-chain disruption, so we have options.
What is the difference between The River Food Pantry and Second Harvest?
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is a food bank and part of Feeding America, a national organization. Generally, a food bank’s role is to provide food to agencies and pantries, who then distribute food directly to people facing hunger. Second Harvest serves pantries, and pantries serve people. The River is Second Harvest’s largest partner, receiving donated and purchased goods from Second Harvest up to five days a week. We are also their only Redistribution Organization, meaning we can provide food to partner agencies, who will then provide it to those they serve.
I see people driving nice cars in line for groceries at The River....how come?
Who supports The River?
Where can I get information on other food pantries or resources?
Call United Way at 2-1-1 and/or check out the Dane County food resources listed here.