By Rebecca Carpenter
The River Food Pantry
With inflation driving up prices for turkey and other holiday fixings and society returning to traditional gatherings, The River Food Pantry is expecting a higher number of requests for holiday groceries and meals for Dane County residents in need.
Through community support of The River’s HOPE (Help Other People Eat) Holiday Food Drive, each year the pantry provides a bountiful variety of holiday groceries and freshly prepared holiday meals to thousands of children, seniors, veterans and adults facing food insecurity leading up to Thanksgiving and the holidays in December.
“Last year, we served 2,500 holiday meals and holiday groceries for over 1,500 households through curbside pickup and delivery,” said Rhonda Adams, executive director of The River. “Considering over 1,300 new households have registered for The River’s services since January, we’re gearing up for an even busier holiday season this year.”
Based on survey feedback from over 350 customers, this year’s Thanksgiving grocery offerings will include a turkey or roasting chicken as well as a green bean casserole, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, corn, mac and cheese, pie, dinner rolls and more. Holiday groceries will be distributed at The River (2201 Darwin Rd.) the week before Thanksgiving and Christmas during normal pantry hours. The list of December holiday groceries will be available at riverfoodpantry.org.
Thanksgiving meals will include turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, pie and a roll. These meals will be distributed curbside Nov. 21–23 from 9 am–3 pm. The River’s website will list the menu for holiday meals before Christmas. The meals will be distributed curbside Dec. 20 from 9 am–4 pm, and Dec. 21 from 12–6 pm.
Customers are welcome to pick up a meal for each household member once before Thanksgiving and once before Christmas, on whichever day works best. There is no need to sign up in advance for the holiday meals or groceries served curbside. However, sign-up is required as usual for online orders and delivery.
To make this possible, volunteers and donations are greatly needed throughout the holiday season. Get involved at riverfoodpantry.org.