We often get asked what donations the Food Pantry needs the most. The following is a short list of items of which we are in constant need:

• Toilet Paper
• White Sugar
• Brown Sugar
• All Purpose Flour
• Vegetable Oil
• Box meals such as Hamburger Helpers
• Canned meals such as Spaghettios, Ravioli, etc
• Diapers – sizes 4, 5 and 6
• Jelly

Other ideas for helping us stock our shelves:

• Take advantage of “buy two” specials. Keep one for yourself and give the other to the pantry.
• If you shop at Costco, Sam’s, or even your local grocery store, purchase the family-size package or the multi-pack. Keep one for yourself and give the other to the pantry!

While this is just the starting point, we hope it will help you the next time you want to donate to the Food Pantry. Thank you!

Go Fresh! Go what? Yes, fresh!

In January 2022, the pantry started a new initiative thanks to a teacher who wondered if we could try bananas for a snack instead of the typical pretzels, popcorn, graham crackers, etc.

With the help of Allison Steinmetz and a couple of brave teachers/classrooms at Bridges Elementary, we conducted a pilot program where the school would receive fresh fruit from the pantry, once per week, for students to have as a snack throughout the week. The pantry started by delivering a couple of cases of bananas. After a few weeks, we succeeded and added another school, Grand Avenue. It was a slow process, but our goal was to add all schools to Go Fresh by March 2022.

And I am pleased to report we achieved our goal! At the end of the 2022 school year, teachers and staff asked if we would continue with the Go Fresh program. We gave a huge YES!

Go Fresh continues to be a positive experience for school-aged students attending all schools in the Sauk Prairie district, including the Nursery Center and Divine Mercy (St Aloysius) schools. It is a great thing to hear students say “I love the apples!” or “I never knew what a pear was, I really like them!” and so much more!

The Board of Directors of the Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry is announcing a transition with the Food Pantry Manager. Effective January 9th, 2020, Carol Gagnon has expressed her intention to resign from the pantry manager position she has held for the last 5+ years. During Carol’s tenure, the Food Pantry has seen significant growth and evolution. The Food Pantry increased availability by allowing the food insecure in our community to come and get food at as many of the 5 monthly distributions as necessary. Also under Carol’s leadership, the pantry established Annexes in each of the Sauk Prairie schools so that hungry students are able to receive snacks (or take food home) to get them through the day and keep them focused on learning. Over one year ago, the Food Pantry moved to a new and larger pantry site at 821 Industry Road in Sauk City, as tenants of a portion of the building owned and developed by 6:8. Carol was instrumental in orchestrating this move.

Carol Gagnon

Kris Ballweg, Interim Food Pantry Manager

As a result of Carol’s upcoming departure, we are announcing the appointment of Kris Ballweg to the role of Interim Food Pantry Manager. Kris has been a regular volunteer at the food pantry for the last 10+ years. Last year, she took on a leadership role in the restocking/delivery volunteer team. In this role, Kris provides direction to a group of dedicated volunteers that several times per month unload 2nd Harvest Deliveries and restock the pantry shelves with food so that it is ready for the next distribution. In early 2019, Kris also joined the Food Pantry Board of Directors. Over the coming weeks, Kris will be transitioning all responsibilities from Carol and in the months to come will work with the board to define and evolve the manager position to meet the growing food needs of many in our community.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Carol Gagnon for her outstanding service to the Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry and we thank Kris Ballweg for being willing to take on the manager role on an interim basis.

To contact the Food Pantry to volunteer your time, donate money or inquire about the food services of the pantry you can phone us at 608-571-7737 or contact us through the pantry website: https://spfoodpantry.org

Todd Taylor
President, Board of Directors
Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry

The Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry recently held its annual meeting. Jean Fisher announced her retirement from the board. Jean is one of the founding members of the Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry. She was on the board for 35 years. Jean has held various positions over the years: volunteer, board President, Pantry Manager, restocker, and a good friend to many patrons. The Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry is very thankful to Jean for her many years of dedication!

The Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry will finally open its doors at its new location Wednesday, April 18, 2018.  Until then all distributions are at the Prairie du Sac location.  The new location is at 821 Industry Road in Sauk City.  Trying to find it?  Turn on Dallas Street by Culver’s.  Take Dallas Street into the Industrial Park.  Dallas Street curves to the right and turns into Industry Road.  The building will be on the right side and is next door to Badger Fabrication.  It is set back from the road.  Look for the 6:8 sign.  We are renting the space from the non-profit 6:8.  There is a white fence on one side and you can see McFarlanes’ in the backyard.  We do have a new phone number but it will not be used until we open.  Please continue to use 644-0504 x29 until April 18, 2018.  Volunteers will be asked to park on the street.  Food Pantry patrons will park in the parking lot.  Patrons will be able to enter the building through the main door and wait inside in the dining room.  Please be flexible as we get the kinks worked out.  We are very excited to have you join us on this journey!

Jim Smith is a member of the Sauk Prairie Area Food Pantry board. Jim does the home deliveries for the Food Pantry and also picks up the commodity food from the government in Wisconsin Dells. Jim also picks up items from donation bins at Piggly Wiggly and Sauk Prairie Market.  Jim enjoys traveling to Guatemala with his wife, Colleen, helping others in need.

We appreciate all Jim does to help the Food Pantry succeed and are pleased to share more about this great Board Member!

As kids start the 2017-2018 school year, the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry opens its new Pantry Annex at the High School. Students can access the Pantry Annex quickly and conveniently right after school ends. This will help High School students and their families obtain needed food resources.

High School is a busy time for students – along with a lot of growth. The school district provides breakfast and lunch through their free and reduced program but that still leaves many students hungry after school and on weekends. Working families may not qualify for benefits but be within a range of income that is insufficient for all expenses.

Teens become more susceptible to food insecurities as their independence and activities increase and parents are not home as much due to work schedules. The goal of the new Annex is to give teens the ability to help themselves (and their families) with easier and more comfortable access to food resources. The High School is a known, safe space for students and they do not need to find transportation to another location

The Food Pantry Annex is located in a small room off one of the High School classrooms. The room was chosen to provide students with a sense of privacy but also for ease of access. The High School currently staffs the room approximately two afternoons a week for a half-hour after school ends.

Please visit the Sauk Prairie Eagle Newspaper to read their article on our Food Pantry Annex.

*Update Fall 2024*

We now have an annex in each of Sauk Prairie District’s schools. The High School, Tower Rock, Middle School, and Bridges Elementary have take-home food available to families. The remaining district schools have snacks, in addition to Go Fresh, available for students to have during the school day.

The food made available to these annex pantries comes mostly from our pantry, which has been donated and purchased.