Feed Them Today, Nourish Them Forever: Two Ways to Make an Impact

Read the Juetten’s “Forever Fund” Story: A Legacy of Service: How One Family's Generosity Is Strengthening the Future of the River Falls Community Food Pantry.

Why Your Gift to the Food Pantry Matters—Today and Tomorrow

At the River Falls Community Food Pantry, we are on the front lines of hunger in our community every day. We receive many questions about the best way to help. Should you donate food? Cash? Should you give to our daily operations or our new Endowment Fund? 
The answer is: It depends on whether you want to solve a problem today or create a solution for tomorrow. Both are vital, and both are needed.
1. Daily Operations: The "Feed Them Today" Gift
When you donate to our daily operations, you are acting as the fuel for our immediate mission. This money is spent within the same year to pay for food purchases, refrigeration electricity, trucks, and staff to manage volunteers. 

• The Impact: Direct, immediate food security for families in need right now.

• The Goal: Survival and immediate relief. 

2. The Endowment Fund: The "Forever" Gift
An endowment fund is a "forever fund." When you donate to this fund, your gift is not spent immediately. Instead, it is invested in a permanent, self-sustaining pool of capital. A small portion of the earnings is used to support the food pantry annually, while the principal remains invested to grow over time. 

• The Impact: Your gift continues to provide food for generations to come, creating a permanent legacy.

• The Goal: Sustainability, stability, and long-term security. 

Why Should You Choose the "Forever Fund"?
Endowments provide a financial cushion that empowers us to weather economic downturns, pandemic crises, or unexpected emergencies without compromising our mission. It tells us that you believe in the future of our community.