New Partnerships with Groups in Belleville, Marshall Getting More Food to Vulnerable Populations
Amanda Prusak, The River’s Access Program Specialist, delivering fresh produce, meat, and shelf-stable items to the Belleville Food Pantry.
MADISON, Wis. — June 30, 2025 — The River Food Pantry has teamed with new partners throughout rural Dane County to help distribute more food to those in need in Belleville and Marshall, outlying farming communities where accessing fresh food is often more challenging.
“The need for food has increased across our county in recent years,” said Rhonda Adams, Executive Director of The River, South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry. “Whether it’s seniors who live alone, families who struggle with poverty, or others in vulnerable living situations, everyone deserves a chance to put a good meal on their tables. Where you live shouldn’t determine whether you’re able to get help with an essential need like food.”
The project is a pilot phase in what The River hopes will lead to a 10-year plan to build out a countywide food network in collaboration with both public and private partners, creating capacity in more rural communities where current pantry options are limited.
Thanks to unspent federal dollars, The River now delivers a supply of food each month to Sugar River Senior Center and Belleville Food Pantry in Belleville and the Early Learning Center and Marshall School District in Marshall. Additionally, The River provides food to RISE for their staff to share with families living in rural areas during home visits. The River works with each partner to determine and source foods that best meet the needs of the populations they serve.
“These new partnerships will help us improve access to services regardless of where you call home in our county,” Adams said.
The River provided over 3.4 million pounds of food to nearly 19,000 Dane County residents through its network of services in 2024. In addition to the services offered at the pantry on the north side of Madison, The River provided over 59,000 mobile meals last year across 25 sites throughout Madison and Fitchburg and more than 3,100 grocery orders via home delivery.
Learn more about The River’s partnerships at riverfoodpantry.org/redistribution-community-partnerships.
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About The River Food Pantry
The River is South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry. Services include free groceries for pickup or delivery, to-go meals, online grocery orders, mobile meals, and after-hours food lockers. The River also recovers food and resources—that would otherwise go to waste—from local retailers. Since 2006, The River has grown to serve over 3,500 people every week in pursuit of its vision: a fully nourished community. Learn more at www.riverfoodpantry.org.
Media Contact
Becca Bolton
Communications Manager
becca@riverfoodpantry.org