When you see one of The River’s vehicles driving around Dane County, you might not think much about what’s happening behind the wheel. But those vehicles are a big part of how we get food to thousands of our neighbors facing food insecurity.

Every week, our staff and volunteers are on the road rescuing food, delivering meals and bringing groceries to people who may not otherwise have enough to eat. And right now, the cost of keeping those vehicles on the road is rising quickly.

Rising food prices have undoubtedly been an ongoing issue for food pantries in recent years, and that continues today. We all see it when we go to the grocery store, and The River feels it too. Now we’re experiencing another significant increase in one of our most basic operating costs: fuel, especially diesel.

The River operates a fleet of six vehicles — four that run on gas and two on diesel. Maybe you’ve seen our easily identifiable vehicles with The River’s logo traveling around town.

Each year, we rescue more than 1 million pounds of food and supplies that would have otherwise gone to waste from more than 50 local retailers across Dane County. That includes grocery stores, convenience stores, wholesalers and other businesses, along with special donations such as those we receive from the World Dairy Expo.

Our food recovery program is incredibly important to me. It allows us to provide our neighbors with a greater variety and quantity of food while also keeping good food and supplies out of the landfill. But it takes vehicles, drivers and fuel to make it happen.

Some of our vehicles also help us bring meals directly into the community. Through our Munch Mobile Meals program, we visit 25 neighborhoods each week, delivering free meals and fresh produce to children and adults living in low-income areas and food deserts.

When fuel prices rise, it directly increases the costs of getting food where it needs to go.

Last fall, the price for gasoline was $3.49 per gallon and diesel was $3.53 per gallon. Today, according to AAA, gas costs $4.22 per gallon and diesel is the highest price it’s ever been at $6.44 per gallon. That’s roughly a 21% increase in gasoline and an 82% increase in diesel compared to last year.

Every time the cost of fuel goes up, we have to find a way to absorb that additional expense while continuing to provide the food, meals and services our neighbors rely on.

And our clients are feeling these same pressures.

The people who come to The River are already making difficult choices between groceries, housing, utilities, gas and other basic needs. We have seen just how tight things can become. Several people have literally run out of gas while waiting in line at The River for groceries.

Think about that for a moment.

Imagine needing to come to a food pantry because your budget is already stretched so thin. Then, while you’re waiting to get the food your family needs, you realize you don’t have enough gas to get home.

That is the reality some of our neighbors are facing.

At The River, we work hard to make every donated dollar go as far as possible. But keeping our vehicles on the road is about more than a tank of gas—it’s about rescuing food, delivering meals and getting groceries to the people who need them. When basic costs like fuel rise so dramatically, they put additional pressure on our budget.

I’ve seen this community step up time and again when The River is in need. I see it in the volunteers who show up, the organizations that donate food, our dedicated staff, and our supporters who believe everyone deserves enough good food. That is what gives me hope.

As we face the added challenge of rising fuel costs, I’m asking our River community to stand with us once again. Your support helps keep our vehicles moving, our food recovery program running, and meals and groceries reaching the people who need them most.

Thank you for helping us keep food—and hope—moving across Dane County.