River Food Pantry's new Madison facility opens in time of rising need
BARRY ADAMS
Updated
The dining space, seen here Thursday prior to the ribbon cutting at the River Food Pantry, is adjacent to the commercial kitchen and could someday be used for community meals.
The River Food Pantry’s new 32,500-square-foot facility on Packers Avenue is three times the size of the former facility on Darwin Street. The pantry’s drive-thru grocery pick up and take-home meal program opened Friday, and other programs will roll out through the end of February.
The $10.7 million River Food Pantry on Packers Avenue was funded through a mix of public and private contributions and is the largest food pantry in Dane County. In 2025, the pantry distributed about 3 million pounds of food to more than 21,000 unique users.
Volunteers Kathy Walsh, left, and Karen Sallander, prepare take-home meals of chili macaroni, salad and fruit Thursday at the new River Food Pantry on Packers Avenue. In 2025, the pantry distributed 135,308 meals, a 7% increase over 2024.
Produce received by the River Food Pantry typically comes from area grocery and convenience stores. The pantry now has more room to sort the donations and more cooler space for storage.
The new, indoor drive-thru grocery pick up at the River Food Pantry was busy Friday on its first day of use. Mary Milhaupt is seen here loading food into Mary Siebert's vehicle. The pantry serves more than 21,000 unique clients a year and has a roster of nearly 3,000 volunteers.
Jaclyn Szabados checks in drivers Friday at the River Food Pantry’s new drive-thru grocery pickup facility. The drive-thru is part of a $10.7 million new headquarters for the River, Dane County’s largest food pantry.
Rachael Maynes, meal coordinator and chef at the River Food Pantry, basks Thursday in the glow of a new, modern kitchen after years of toiling in a smaller and sometimes non-functioning kitchen at the pantry’s former facility on Darwin Street. The Packers Avenue kitchen is able to produce large volumes of meals in a more efficient manner.
The River Food Pantry’s new 32,500-square-foot facility on Packers Avenue is three times the size of the former facility on Darwin Street. The pantry’s drive-thru grocery pick up and take-home meal program opened Friday, and other programs will roll out through the end of February.
Volunteers Kathy Walsh, left, and Karen Sallander, prepare take-home meals of chili macaroni, salad and fruit Thursday at the new River Food Pantry on Packers Avenue. In 2025, the pantry distributed 135,308 meals, a 7% increase over 2024.
The $10.7 million River Food Pantry on Packers Avenue was funded through a mix of public and private contributions and is the largest food pantry in Dane County. In 2025, the pantry distributed about 3 million pounds of food to more than 21,000 unique users.
Produce received by the River Food Pantry typically comes from area grocery and convenience stores. The pantry now has more room to sort the donations and more cooler space for storage.
The dining space, seen here Thursday prior to the ribbon cutting at the River Food Pantry, is adjacent to the commercial kitchen and could someday be used for community meals.
Rachael Maynes, meal coordinator and chef at the River Food Pantry, basks Thursday in the glow of a new, modern kitchen after years of toiling in a smaller and sometimes non-functioning kitchen at the pantry’s former facility on Darwin Street. The Packers Avenue kitchen is able to produce large volumes of meals in a more efficient manner.
The new, indoor drive-thru grocery pick up at the River Food Pantry was busy Friday on its first day of use. Mary Milhaupt is seen here loading food into Mary Siebert's vehicle. The pantry serves more than 21,000 unique clients a year and has a roster of nearly 3,000 volunteers.
Jaclyn Szabados checks in drivers Friday at the River Food Pantry’s new drive-thru grocery pickup facility. The drive-thru is part of a $10.7 million new headquarters for the River, Dane County’s largest food pantry.
