The River Clothing Closet and Food Pantry

Organization: The River Crossing

Contact Person:

Phone:

☀608) 442-8815

Bilingual Services:

Services Rendered:

FOOD PANTRY

COMMUNITY MEALS

CLOTHING & HOUSEHOLD GOODS

MUNCH

OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES

First time visiting, please bring proof of address and household size. A recent bill dated within 3 months is best for address proof.

History/Description:

The River Food Pantry is Dane County’s busiest food pantry, offering free groceries, meals, mobile lunches and clothing to anyone who comes for help. Located in a warehouse just off Northport Drive and Packers Avenue, The River is surrounded by low-income neighborhoods and subsidized senior housing—exactly where we’re needed the most. We also provide a mobile lunch program for children and teens in low income neighborhoods surrounding the food pantry. Nutritious packed lunches are distributed in the neighborhoods on weekends and other non-school days.

More than just meals, The River provides a warm and welcoming family atmosphere where everyone is treated with respect, encouraged to find the support they need, and given the opportunity to share what they can with others.

The River feeds more than 700 Dane County families per week, sharing 48 thousand pounds of food every seven days, or about 2 million pounds of food each year. Over $3.6 million in goods and services are distributed annually. We also serve 550+ hot meals each week and currently distribute 400 mobile packed lunches on each non-school day.

In 2017, The River received 33,012 family visits. Approximately 40% of those served by The River are children and 20% are seniors. In 2017, The River provided just over 65,000 packed lunches to children and teens with MUNCH, The River’s mobile lunch program.