In celebration of NCAA Division III’s Day of Service, the UW-River Falls Falcons and Amherst Mammoths women’s hockey teams volunteered at the River Falls Food Pantry before their national championship matchup. We are facing ongoing donation needs because of federal food assistance funding cuts.

Our December newsletter celebrates community generosity! Highlights include the 34th Annual Grumpy Old Men Food Drive raising $7,630 and 269 lbs of food, Meyer Middle School’s Penny Wars bringing in $7,000 and 1,435 lbs of donations, and the ongoing Blooms for Happiness fundraiser. We’re currently in need of cereal, toilet paper, and peanut butter—drop-offs welcome during service hours.

The River Falls Community Food Pantry is seeing record demand as 1 in 6 children and 1 in 14 seniors face hunger in Wisconsin. With donations down, we rely on community support to continue our mission. This month, we thank Apple Tree Farm for their generosity and ask for donations of cereal, paper towels, and toiletries.

Since 2019, the River Falls Community Pantry has grown to serve nearly 550 families monthly, distributing 30,000 pounds of food across Saint Croix and Pierce counties.

As a member of the Hunger Relief Federation, the River Falls Community Food Pantry collaborates with Hunger Task Force to stay updated on statewide hunger relief efforts.

With summer here, the River Falls Community Food Pantry welcomes fresh produce donations from local gardens and farms. Nonperishable donations often decline during this season, so themed food drives like “Breakfast Essentials” or “Snack Time!” can make a big impact. This month, we spotlight volunteer Luke Score, whose dedication and heartwarming moments bring joy to the pantry

The UWRF and Elmira College women’s hockey teams volunteered at the pantry ahead of the NCAA Division III Championship, showing incredible community spirit. Congratulations to UWRF for their undefeated season and national title!

We are grateful to the Knights of Columbus, Meyer Middle School, and the Grumpy Old Men Flagpole Fundraiser for their generous donations, raising over $20,000 and thousands of pounds of food to support our mission.