Over $11 million has been raised for a new, larger River Food Pantry facility on Madison’s north side, according to WKOW. The nonprofit serves almost 3,000 people weekly; one in three people served is a child.
The new 32,500-square-foot facility, three times the size of the current spot, will be located on Packers Avenue and support expanded food and meal programs. It will house an all-electric commercial kitchen, additional food prep and storage areas, a drive-thru, delivery truck docking stations, an in-person dining space, and community multipurpose rooms.
The building will also feature a geothermal heat-pump climate control system, energy-efficient lighting, a solar panel array, and more.
The project stems from increased community needs throughout 2023 and a 25% spike in demand in the first few months of 2024. Construction is set to begin this summer, with the facility opening in late spring or early summer of 2025.
