The River Food Pantry

"It literally brings me to tears as I type this..."?? Rhonda Adams, our Executive Director, shares a closer, more personal look at the week before Thanksgiving at The River.

? ?????????????? ?????? ? ?????????????? ???????????? ? On Wednesday, The River served groceries to a record-breaking 507 HOUSEHOLDS IN A SINGLE DAY?? This was the second day in a row with a daily record high broken (467 households on Tuesday) and only the second day of our Thanksgiving grocery distribution?? In the last 2 days, we served 2,527 unique individuals and 2,151 meals, which is nearly the amount we serve in a whole week?? We want to thank our volunteers and staff for helping us serve our community through the cold, rain, sleet, wind, and snow during what is shaping out to be our busiest week in The River's 18-year history?? The River will continue serving Thanksgiving groceries through Friday. We will serve prepared Thanksgiving to-go meals Monday through Wednesday. ?? Please help us meet this unprecedented demand for food by supporting The River's HOPE (Help Other People Eat) Holiday Food Drive: https://bit.ly/HOPE-24

?????????????? ????????????! Tuesday was the first time in The River's history to serve groceries to 467 households in a single day???? This breaks our previous record by 63...and it was only the FIRST DAY of our Thanksgiving grocery distribution!?? If you would like to help us meet this historic demand for food, please support The River's HOPE (Help Other People Eat) Holiday Food Drive: https://bit.ly/HOPE-24

“We would not survive without community support,” says Helen Osborn-Senatus, The River's Operations Director. “If someone wants to be involved, just let us know. Donations of money, food or your time — that’s a year-round need. And if you are facing difficult decisions financially and have never been to a food pantry, come, that’s why we are here. We try to meet people where they are.” Thank you, Isthmus, for highlighting our community's food pantries in your Nonprofit Issue and how we've continued to pivot to meet the ever-greater need.

Today was The River Food Pantry’s Official Groundbreaking Ceremony! Over 100 of our supporters gathered on our new land to celebrate the beginning of construction on The River’s new, larger, purpose-built facility located at 3301 Packers Ave! Attendees heard details about this exciting project from our Executive Director Rhonda Adams and our Recipe for Hope Campaign leaders, Dave Beck-Engel, former Governor Jim Doyle, Annie Ballweg, and Wisconsin Volleyball Coach Kelly Sheffield. Local government officials also shared wonderful remarks about The River, including Congressman Mark Pocan, Interim Dane County Executive Jamie Kuhn, and Dane County Supervisor of District 18, Michele Ritt. To close our ceremony, Ne’ke Romashko, a member of The River’s Client Advisory Council, gave a land blessing in Lakota, and our Munch Mobile Meals truck offered light refreshments for everyone to enjoy. Despite the clouds and mud, The River’s future never looked brighter, and we honestly could not be more excited! We thank everyone who joined us today and those who have contributed to The River’s new building and our mission. To learn more and help The River reach our goal to fully fund our new building, please visit https://lnkd.in/eBDZ4gtD.

Such a special moment?? Our staff held a small groundbreaking ceremony on our new land to celebrate this significant milestone in The River's history?? We painted shovels and planted our hopes and dreams for The River's next chapter?? It's just the beginning of something very special for our community? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eBDZ4gtD.

We did it?? The River is now the VERY proud owner of LAND for our future home!?????????? Located on Packers Ave, The River's new site is on the northern half of the parcel across the street from our current warehouse. The initial fencing has gone up and site work will begin very soon?? ? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eBDZ4gtD and stay tuned for progress updates along the way??

?? We're hiring a Part-Time Recovery Specialist to help rescue food and supplies—that would otherwise go to waste—from local retailers for The River to nourish our neighbors in need?? Compensation is $20/hour and will be scheduled approximately 13 hours per week on Sunday from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm and one additional day of the week (either Monday, Wednesday, Friday) from 7:00am-3:00 pm. The River will work with the individual to determine which day they will be scheduled. To see the full job description and apply, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gZ_p8KpT Learn more about our Recovery Program here: https://lnkd.in/gxBRtxm5

THUMBS UP ALL AROUND ?????????? Thanks to many generous donors, we have met the $150,000 anonymous match toward our Recipe for Hope Campaign to build a new building! Our new total is now $11,643,533 toward our $12 million goal ?? If you can, please help us raise the remaining funds The River needs to grow in order to meet our community's growing need ?? Donations of any size are appreciated! Learn more and give at https://lnkd.in/eBDZ4gtD.

L ?? k at all the local chefs and celebrities participating in Sips & Slices: A Brunch Taste-off for The River! Join us all on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 1–4pm at The East Side Club as these teams battle to see who can create the Best Brunch Slice ?? All proceeds will go toward providing healthy food for the growing number of food-insecure families who utilize The River’s services?? The Early Bird ticket discount ends TODAY! Buy tickets now at https://lnkd.in/g-g7jg8d. #sipsandslices