The River Food Pantry is proud to announce that it has successfully reached its $12 million capital campaign goal to fund a new, larger facility that will allow the organization to serve more neighbors in need with greater efficiency, dignity, and impact.

“We are incredibly grateful to every donor who believed in this mission and made it possible by supporting our Recipe for Hope Campaign since it launched in 2023,” said Rhonda Adams, Executive Director of The River. “Reaching our $12 million goal ensures that we can expand and improve our services for hundreds of individuals and families who rely on us each week for food, support, and hope.”

The funds will support:

• A 32,500 square-foot facility to accommodate increased demand and improve service delivery
• Expanded access to nutritious groceries and meals through existing programs
• Enhanced infrastructure to bring back popular services that were canceled due to the pandemic, including clothing and houseware distribution and indoor dining
• Space for community partners to provide access to life-changing services related to housing, healthcare, employment, legal assistance, counseling, and more
• Environmentally sustainable design to reduce operating costs and environmental impact

“This project is a true public-private partnership, which reflects the fact that food access and nutrition are communal issues that require community-wide solutions,” Adams elaborated. Leading private funders for the project include the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation, Terri and Dave Beck-Engel, Fairway Independent Mortgage Foundation, and Sub-Zero Group Foundation. Substantial public support was provided by Dane County, the City of Madison, and the U.S. Congress. In total, 340 pantry supporters contributed to the success of the building project’s capital campaign.

With nearly triple the space of the warehouse the pantry has rented over the past 19 years, the new facility will help The River meet the community’s increased need for food assistance. As South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry, The River currently serves over 3,500 people each week through its free services, including groceries for pickup or delivery, to-go meals, online grocery orders, mobile meals, and after-hours food lockers. In 2024, The River served more people than ever before, and demand was up 14% in the first half of 2025.

Construction is already underway with the goal of opening the new facility, located at 3301 Packers Ave on Madison’s Northside, in early 2026. Advanced Building Corporation is the contractor and Ramaker & Associates is the architect for the project.

For more information about the Recipe for Hope Campaign, visit riverfoodpantry.org/recipe-for-hope.