According to Feeding America, 617,790 people in Wisconsin are facing hunger, including 204,750 children. While local food pantries and food assistance programs have helped alleviate food insecurity, the need in the community remains great, with demand at Dane County food pantries increasing 112% over the past two years.
In a statement released by River Food Pantry earlier this year, local food pantry leaders said “community support has played a vital role in helping the pantry meet the need.”
To bring awareness to some of the work breaking down food access barriers in Madison, here are seven local food pantries and programs, all with opportunities to support their mission.
Bayview Community Centre
Photo courtesy of Bayview Community Centre
Anyone can shop at the food pantry at the Bayview Community Center (103 La Mariposa Lane). Visits are limited to one day per week. A week at the pantry is from Wednesday to Wednesday, meaning if you shop on Monday, you can come back on Wednesday of the same week.
Bay Views Pantry is open Monday 9am-5pm, Wednesday noon-8pm, Thursday 11am-3pm, and Friday 8:30am-12pm. The pantry accepts donations of food, household items and paper bags. To volunteer, click here.
beacon
The Beacon, located at 615 E. Washington Ave., provides shelter and assistance to homeless people. In addition to providing a light breakfast, coffee and a daily lunch, The Beacon offers free access to private showers and restrooms, laundry services, daily storage and more.
At Beacon, individuals can receive mental health counseling and referrals to case managers, as well as housing and job assistance.
The Beacon is open daily from 8am to 5pm. To find out how you can donate (including making a monetary gift, donating care items or volunteering), click here
Extended Hands Pantry
Any Dane County resident can shop at Extended Hands Pantry, operated by Lighthouse Church, at 6402 Schroeder Road. The pantry is open every Monday and Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The pantry is open the last Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
In addition to the food pantry, Extended Hands also provides tutoring services to children in low-income areas. You can also support the pantry, volunteer, or host your own food drive. Click here for more information.
Keep Food Pantry
Open Thursdays from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., The Keep Food Pantry is located at Lutheran Memorial Church, 1021 University Ave., and provides healthy, nutritious food to members of the campus community. Students, faculty and staff from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Edgewood College and Madison College are welcome to shop at the food pantry once a week. Visitors are asked to show proof of education.
The Keep Food Pantry receives most of its food from donations and the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Learn more about volunteering here.
Luke House Community Meals Program
The Community Meals Program, 310 S. Ingersoll St., provides free meals nine times a week to local residents in need. Meals are provided, cooked and served by volunteers from Madison-area churches.
At Luke House, volunteers sit and eat with guests, providing a sense of community for those who use their services. You can donate to programs online or find out about volunteer opportunities by emailing contact.us@lukehousemadison.org.
Neighborhood House Community Center
The food pantry at the Neighborhood House Community Center, 29 S. Mills St., is open three days a week and is open to the public. ID is not required to shop, but you will be asked to fill out a simple registration form on your first visit. Visits are limited to one per week.
The indoor pantry is open on Tuesdays from 4pm to 7pm. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the indoor pantry is open from 12pm to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm.
Neighborhood House has set up an outdoor pantry on select days to allow for quick and easy access, anonymity and minimal social interaction. Click here to learn more about volunteering with Neighborhood House.
River Food Pantry
The River Food Pantry, located at 2201 Darwin Road, feeds more than 2,500 people each week, providing Madison-area community members with free groceries, freshly prepared meals for takeout or delivery, online grocery ordering, mobile meals and after-hours food lockers. In 2023, The River provided food to 17,079 individuals across Dane County a total of 276,395 times.
There are several opportunities to volunteer as an individual or group, as well as other ways to help the pantry, including donating money or food items or partnering with the pantry as a sponsor.
Anna Kleiber is an editorial intern at Madison Magazine.
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