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
Thank you to everyone who has been donating their empty egg cartons to The River. We have been so overwhelmed by your generosity that we cannot accept more at this time. Stay tuned, we will let you know when we have space to take more.
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 food drive barrel inside our entrance or 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 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.
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.