NEWS RELEASE
Some generous gardeners explicitly planned to grow a row or two for the pantry this year. Others just have more tomatoes, carrots or cukes than they can handle. In any case, local members of the green-thumb set are invited to help neighbors in need now by supplying Dane County’s busiest food pantry with the bounty of their harvest.
In April, as gardeners laid plans for the growing season, St. Vincent de Paul issued the invitation – through local media and in church bulletins – to "grow a row" or two for the Society’s pantry. Now, St. Vincent de Paul is asking local growers to help fill the pantry’s produce bins to their brims with the healthy harvest of their garden plots.
St. Vincent de Paul volunteers and staff members report that the fresh produce gardeners bring to the Society’s food pantry is much appreciated by those who turn to this customer-choice pantry for help in feeding their families. Operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at 1309 Culmen St. in the town of Madison, the pantry serves from 60 to more than 120 families per day five days a week. Clients come from every ZIP Code in the county.
Last year the pantry answered more than 19,400 requests for nutrition assistance and distributed food valued at more than $1.1 million. Society of St. Vincent de Paul officials report that the need being met is up significantly this year and that the pantry recently served a record 123 families in one day.
Throughout this harvest season, gardeners may drop off their gifts of home-grown green beans, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, squash or other favorite veggies at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Saturday, from 9 a.m. until noon. Those interested in more information about donating produce may call the pantry at 257-0919, Ext. 301.