New record set for households relying on busiest Dane County food pantry

For most of the last 12 months, St. Vincent de Paul’s food pantry has operated out of a newly constructed building at 2033 Fish Hatchery Road.  The new facility, known as the Center for Vincentian Charity, began serving food pantry clients in February, while the center’s adjoining warehouse was being built on the site of the Society’s previous pantry.  The entire complex was completed by late May on-budget at a cost of about $4 million.  To date, St. Vincent de Paul – in its first ever Madison-area capital campaign – has raised about $3.5 million in cash, pledges and in-kind donations for the new center.

"Our Help Build Hope Campaign had been on-track to raise all funds needed by the planned completion of the building," Ralph Middlecamp, Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul–Madison, said.  "But then – as the economic troubles took hold last fall – new pledges slowed dramatically, and we were left with about $700,000 yet to raise.  We find ourselves serving more and more first-time pantry clients, and we’re anxious for a successful finish to our campaign."

Middlecamp said he hopes the generous $100,000 challenge grant the Madison Community Foundation announced last month would be the catalyst needed to complete the campaign. Reaching the campaign’s goal by next spring and avoiding the need to finance remaining obligations for the center are crucially important, he said.

"The new St. Vincent de Paul food pantry has been serving some 500 families a week lately," said Kathleen Woit, Madison Community Foundation President.  "We know that our recent $100,000 challenge grant will help St. Vincent’s leverage the final $500,000 needed to finish their campaign; the spirit and energy of staff and volunteers is extraordinary."

Middlecamp welcomed the timing of the Madison Community Foundation challenge grant.  "At our food pantry, we’re seeing more new faces – people who may never have needed a pantry before," he said.  "Completing the campaign for our new center soon will allow us to devote our resources to providing food and other aid during what are still difficult times for so many people at the margins."

During the 2009 fiscal year St. Vincent de Paul just completed, the Society contributed to meeting increased community need by providing local assistance – including food aid – valued at a record $1.83 million.  The Society’s $1.28 million in local food aid alone reflected a 50 percent increase over the comparable figure for fiscal 2006.  That was the first full year the Society operated its pantry – somewhat like a small grocery store – on an innovative "customer-choice" model.  Intended to honor client dignity and minimize food waste, this model enables clients to use a point system to "shop" for food items their families prefer and will actually eat.

More than 75,800 Dane County residents* – including over 34,000 children – lived in households St. Vincent de Paul’s service center helped with food or other basic assistance during the last 12 months. Beyond food aid, the basic-needs assistance St. Vincent de Paul supplies through the Society’s service center includes vouchers for prescribed pharmaceuticals, clothing, bedding, furniture and household goods.  The Society also offers housing programs in Madison’s isthmus for dozens of men, women and children in need of shelter. (*Because clients are eligible to use the pantry once in 30 days and most other services once in six months, clients count again in these figures for each time their household needed to rely on the service center during the fiscal year.)