Photograph provided by East Madison Community Center.
and that during the Thanksgiving Basket Drive they’ll have 600. The majority of the help needed is in packing and distributing the weekend before Thanksgiving. They’ll have a crew on standby those three days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. handing out baskets to families. Most times, it’s a drivethrough setup at GCC to keep the flow going smoothly. not just that people are getting food, but that a large group of people came together to help.” Over 3,500 families registered for baskets in 2017, and a record-breaking outcome of 21,000 Dane County residents received them (including nearly 10,000 children). Sam says the program was only at 300 baskets 10 years ago. Food drives and donations are what help to fill baskets, as well as the overwhelming support of community members and volunteers. Sam says GCC has 30 to 40 regular weekly volunteers,
Cranksgiving benefits the GCC Fritz Food Pantry. Part bike ride, part food drive, and part scavenger hunt, Cranksgiving is hosted by Revolution Cycles on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Participants collect food at various grocery stores and deliver on their bikes to the GCC pantry.
Charles McLimans, president and CEO, says they need three resources to be successful: food, funds, and friends. The goal for The River Food Pantry is
Photograph provided by Goodman Community Center. 12 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s
THE RIVER FOOD PANTRY: HELP OTHER PEOPLE EAT (HOPE)
connecting community to compassion, and this is apparent through their continual programming and support from the local community. The River officially opened its doors in 2006. Charles recognizes the importance of providing a place for struggling, working families to shop for essentials, like food and clothing, and in providing hot meals. They serve 1,000 families weekly, and the mission is food, resources, and faith to build a stronger community. They are ending hunger, especially childhood hunger. Charles says, “40 percent of children and 23 percent of seniors are part of the population served at the food pantry.” The River relies on their 200 to 300 weekly volunteers for their 50,000 hours of annual service. Charles says The River is “100 percent community supported, not government funded,” and their funding mainly comes from individuals, foundations, corporations, monthly sustaining donors, and
Photograph by Althea Dotzour Photography at The River Food Pantry.