Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry
Providing Hope, One Meal at a Time.
Hunger knows no boundaries, and neither do we. All are welcome!
**THE SUN PRAIRIE FOOD PANTRY WILL BE CLOSED 12/24, 12/25, 12/31, & 1/1**
About the Food Pantry
Food Pantry Hours
- Monday: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Guests can shop at the pantry every 14 days. We stock fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, bread, cooking staples, snacks, personal care, household care, diapers, and period products.
The food pantry is closed for major holidays and in the event of weather emergencies.
If you cannot access the pantry, you may use a proxy shopper. Seniors who do not have anyone who can help them access the pantry should call (608) 478-0510.
We are located just off Main Street, and easily accessible from HWY 151. We are located on the Madison Metro lines S & W.
New Shoppers: Start Here!
Español: ¡próximamente!
Hmoob: los sai sai no!
Thanksgiving Baskets
We are proud to help families celebrate with the foods that bring them joy and comfort during the holidays!
Thanksgiving Basket Drive
Help us stock our baskets with special items not normally stocked at the pantry. Our shoppers are diverse, and we need your help to ensure their holiday meal is special
Drop off any items directly at the pantry, and let our volunteers know the items are for thanksgiving baskets.
- Ancho or guajillo chiles
- Corn husks (for tamales)
- Sambal oelek
- Bouillon cubes
- Egg roll wrappers
Getting a Basket
Thanksgiving Baskets are distributed during regular pantry hours in the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, November 13 through November 27. Customers can pick up their Thanksgiving Basket during their normal pantry visit, however a pantry visit is not required.
Additional Food Services
Senior Boxes for Ages 60 and Over
In partnership with Community Action Coalition (CAC), we are one of the largest distributors of senior boxes in Dane County. Every senior box contains a healthy mix of supplemental food items and is available once per month. To qualify you must be 60 or older and meet a monthly income requirement of 130% at or below the federal poverty level: $1353 for one person or $1832 for two people.
Resource Lobby
Additional food is often available in the Sunshine Place Lobby, which is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Food can be accessed by anyone in need and does not count toward normal pantry visits. Food available often consists of bread, bakery items, and additional overflow stock from the pantry. Availability is not guaranteed and limits may apply on certain items.
Food for Kids
In partnership with Sun Prairie Community Schools, we distribute hearty snack bags in several Sun Prairie neighborhoods during the school year (Fun Friday), meal bags to help families get through school breaks, and lunches three days a week during summer break.
Supporting School Pantries
Getting to the pantry should not be a barrier for kids and families to access the food they need. We supply and support satellite pantries at all eight- Sun Prairie Community Schools.
Thanksgiving Baskets
Thanksgiving Baskets are distributed during regular pantry hours in the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Customers can pick up their Thanksgiving Basket during their normal pantry visit, however a pantry visit is not required.
Bilingual Volunteers
We typically have at least one volunteer on each shift who speaks Spanish. Language should never be a barrier to accessing food!
Help to Support the Food Pantry
Volunteer
Help your neighbors with the gift of time. The Sun Prairie Food Pantry has just one paid program staff, so volunteers are critical to providing our services in a dignified, compassionate way. Whether you’re a people person or prefer to stay behind the scenes, we have something for you!
Financial Donations
Financial donations keep the shelves stocked, the lights on, and gas in our trucks. Every donation is a valuable pledge that transforms lives in our community. Thank you!
This Month’s Food Drive Focus…
December’s Food Drive Focus is: Warming Foods!
Winter is here! Help our shoppers stay warm and toasty as temperatures drop.
Drop off any items directly at the pantry. Or make it easy by shopping off our Amazon list
- Canned Chili
- Dry Pasta
- Hamburger Helper
- Hearty Canned Soups & Stews
- Mac & Cheese
- Meals in a Can
- Pasta Sides
- Rice-A-Roni
Food and care drives add richness and variety to our shelves, so our clients can truly have a dignified experience full of choices! In 2023 donations from our neighbors helped Sun Prairie Food Pantry distribute almost 1.3 million pounds of food to our community. Guests at the pantry were fed more than 53,500 times.
Want to host a food drive, but don’t know where to start? Click through to find our Food Drive Kit, or contact us to get started.
Help Feed Kids
Between stocking pantries at local schools, passing out snacks in Sun Prairie neighborhoods, and distributing lunches three days per week during summer break, we are working to ensure that no kid in our community goes hungry.
We need your support to make this important work possible!
About the Sun Prairie Food Pantry
1 in 7 children go hungry in Wisconsin. The Sun Prairie Food Pantry works to make sure everyone gets fed. If you are struggling with food insecurity, regardless of where you live, we encourage you to visit us.
Our Mission
The Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry provides hope through hunger relief.
Our Vision
We strive to provide reliable sources of food and personal care items to individuals of all ages.
Our Values
Our values reflect core beliefs that inspire and guide how we operate and treat others. Our values include:
Integrity—We are good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
Collaborative—We build and foster strong community and team relationships.
Accepting—We welcome people from all walks of life without judgement.
Compassionate—We are known for the kindness we show toward one another.
Humble—We are easy going, gentle in spirit, and we seek simplicity in all that we do.
Safe—We work safely for the benefit of ourselves and others.
Our Partners
We work closely with many partners to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. Our partners include:
American Family Insurance
Bank of Sun Prairie
The Community Action Coalition
The City of
Sun Prairie
Costco
Kwik Trip Stores
Madison Community Foundation
McGann Construction
Pick N Save
Second Harvest
Sun Prairie Community Schools
Sun Prairie Education Foundation
Sun Prairie
School District
Sunshine Place
United Way of Dane County
Woodman’s
Our History
Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry began in 1993 when six Sun Prairie churches merged their smaller food pantries to create a single larger pantry that served the entire community.
Back then, the food pantry, located in a small building on North Bristol Street, served around 50 families a month. Today, the food pantry serves approximately 1,400 families a month.
As client numbers grew, so did the size of the food pantry. The pantry moved to a larger space on South Bristol Street in 1997. And the food pantry moved to its current location at 18 Rickel Road in 2007 after crews razed the South Bristol Street building to construct a new Senior Living Center.
On January 1, 2023 the pantry merged with and became a program of Sunshine Place. Sunshine Place brings long-term sustainability in paid administrative and support staff. Together Sunshine Place and the pantry can focus on the root causes of poverty and food insecurity, so our shared client base can thrive.
The food pantry takes full advantage of partnerships with Second Harvest, the Community Action Coalition, area grocery stores, and wholesale food distributors. Collaborative efforts with area schools and other nonprofits also help increase community members’ access to food.
The most significant characteristic of the food pantry is the enduring support it receives from the community. Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry could not exist and operate without the kindness and generosity of its volunteers, Sun Prairie residents, and beyond.