Each week, The River serves over 4,000 people throughout Dane County with free groceries, meals, and personal care items. We need your help to keep the pantry stocked with a variety of items. We prefer donations in smaller package sizes or individual servings that can be easily distributed to each household. For example, 2-5 pound bags of rice or flour rather than a 50 pound bag.
Most-Needed Items:
- Hearty soup with protein
- Cereal (hot and cold)
- Gluten-free items
- Rice
- Pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Pop-top canned goods
- Microwavable meals
- Canned fruit
- Canned beans
- Granola bars
- Fruit cups
- Paper products (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels)
Accepted:
- Non-perishable, non-expired food
- Hygiene items
- Cleaning supplies
- Pet food
- Garden produce (Please wash and give directly to a staff member or volunteer.)
- Paper bags (Grocery size preferred. No plastic bags, please.)
Not Accepted:
- Perishable food
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Used household goods
- Medications, vitamins, supplements, or tobacco products
Donate via Amazon
You can also purchase food and essentials off The River’s list of most-needed items. Amazon will ship your purchases directly to us, and we will distribute your gifts to our neighbors in need.
Donation Drop-off Hours
Donations can be dropped off in the large black donation bin in the back parking lot of The River Food Pantry (3301 Packers Ave) between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If the donation is larger than 10 grocery bags, please contact us in advance at helen@riverfoodpantry.org. If your donations are part of a food drive or fundraiser, please contact development@riverfoodpantry.org. If these times do not work for you, please call (608) 442-8815 to coordinate an alternative.
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The River will host a drive-thru donation drop-off event on Monday, Feb. 16 from 10 am–4 pm. You will get a peek at our new indoor drive-thru when you bring your donation!
The River Food Pantry is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and the value of your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.