Behind the Scenes at Sunshine Supper

“A family with kids shared with us that they pick up meals for their family and for another family with kids and they all eat together. Building community and gathering around the table have always been a big part of our mission. Since we moved to the drive-thru model, we have heard countless stories of people gathering with their Sunshine Supper meals and being in community with others. Sunshine Supper is still making that possible”. 

- Julie Wiedmeyer, Sunshine Supper committee lead

Sunshine Place’s Sunshine Supper program has a simple premise: to provide a warm meal and a warm welcome to anyone who needs it. After 16 years, the volunteers who keep the Sunshine Supper program running smoothly have the process down to a science. Once a week on Mondays, from 5 to 6 pm, no matter the weather, volunteers serve meals to community members driving through the Sunshine Supper lot at 1632 West Main Street. Last year alone, volunteers served 24,008 meals. That’s over 2 thousand meals a month! Sunshine Supper continues to grow, and over the years has become a staple for all who come for a meal, or a conversation. It is not just a program, it is a community.

This involves coordinating with each group starting 2 to 6 weeks before their date. Groups who have sponsored for many years, such as Sun Prairie United Methodist Church, who served the very first Sunshine Supper meal and still participates today, get the right of first refusal for their volunteer dates. Sign-up for Sunshine Supper opens in fall and the year fills up fast. Church and community groups are the backbone of Sunshine Supper meals, with these groups coming back consistently year after year. There are typically about 5 openings for new groups each year, and those go to groups who are on a waitlist. 

The speed with which volunteer spots for Sunshine Supper are filled speaks to the community that exists within the program– for supper guests, but also for volunteers and committee members, who have given so much time and energy to Sunshine Supper. Such as long-time volunteer Deb Riggins, who served on the Sunshine Supper committee with her husband Stephen until he passed away in 2020. Although she no longer lives in Sun Prairie, Deb remains on the committee and continues to make the drive to volunteer at Sunshine Supper. A bench honoring her late husband sits outside of the Sunshine Supper building. Many other volunteers like Deb, whether coming with a group to provide a meal or coordinating behind the scenes on the committee, have been doing this for years. It is largely the care and longevity of these volunteers that has made Sunshine Supper such a strong support for those who need it.

Providing the Meal: A Walk-Through

A lot goes into making Sunshine Supper happen each week. Sponsor groups who sign up are agreeing to provide food for roughly 500 people, and to send 14 volunteers to help prep and distribute meals. Some groups choose to cater, while others buy ingredients and cook. As prices for groceries and people attending Sunshine Supper have increased over the years, groups have spent anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars on groceries or catering. It is a big cost and time commitment, and the willingness of volunteers to give those things is what makes these meals happen.

For the groups cooking a meal, prep can start anywhere from the day before to early that morning. Volunteers can use the commercial-grade kitchen in Sunshine Supper to prep and cook food, and to get everything set up and ready for guests. Once the food is prepped, which often takes most of the day, volunteers and a handful of Sunshine Supper committee members arrive to set up food containers and prep assembly lines to serve and bag everything to go. During this time, the volunteers circle up to touch base and to give a refresher about the process for meal distribution. This includes an emphasis on making guests feel welcome, stopping to chat if that’s what they need, and ensuring that the meals served are treated in the same way we would want our food to be treated. This means meeting or exceeding health department standards, even though it is not a requirement for meals served free of charge. 

By the time the meal ends, anywhere from 400 to 500 people have been served, and the volunteers stay to clean up. Any extra meals go to nearby shelters, the Colonial Club, or to Sun Prairie police officers working overnight shifts. Volunteers take on the job of delivering these extra meals, to ensure nothing goes to waste. Then next week, it all happens again.

The people who come for a meal at Sunshine Supper may come once, or they may come weekly, and they are there for a variety of different reasons. But regardless of who they are and why they need a meal, they are welcomed, and they are served. We are so grateful for the volunteers that allow Sunshine Place to continue the labor of love that is Sunshine Supper, and the amazing support it provides for the Sun Prairie community. 

Ways to Support Sunshine Supper

If you have a group interested in sponsoring a Sunshine Supper, you can reach out and be added to the wait list (sunshinesupper@gmail.com). Meanwhile, here are three ways you can support the great work that Sunshine Supper does:

• Sign up to bake cookies! There are a few groups, including some families, who come in to bake cookies for our Sunshine Suppers. These can be frozen and used across several meals. Contact leticia@sunshineplace.org.

• Do you own or work in a local restaurant? We have had so many amazing local business owners support Sunshine Supper by regularly donating food for a meal or to supplement a meal. Reach out to sunshinesupper@gmail.com if you are interested in engaging this way.

• Donate by clicking the button below, and selecting "Sunshine Supper". It may not be hands on, but donations allow Sunshine Supper to keep everything running so that the volunteers can do their thing.

♥️ Our "Love Your Hair" Drive Recap ♥️

We are so grateful to all of the individuals who donated to make our Valentine's week "Love Your Hair" drive a success! In addition to the 250 lbs of product collected by LOVB Volleyball fans at their game, we received multiple donations dropped off at the pantry and sent through the mail. THANK YOU to each of you who donated. It is so exciting to see the shelves stocked with such a wide variety of products, so that our pantry shoppers can choose what works best for their needs. The Sunshine Pantry program accept these products YEAR-ROUND! If you missed your chance to donate, you can drop off products anytime during open lobby hours or in the blue donation barrel in front of the pantry at 18 Rickel Rd.

Program Story Highlight

"Thank you so much, I could literally cry. You helping me with my rent and utilities is going to give me the chance to catch up on my car payments. I need my car to take the kids to school and to find myself another job. This is such a blessing, thank you!"

-  Emergency Utilities Assistance program

Are you a Sunshine Place client, volunteer, or donor with a story to share? Send your stories to socialmedia@sunshineplace.org or, fill out our online story form. All stories stay anonymous unless otherwise requested by a client.

Get Ready for the School Challenge!

Mark your calendars for this year's Food Pantry School Challenge! All Sun Prairie elementary schools have 3 weeks (March 2nd - March 20th), to collect food and donations for the Sunshine Pantry program. Last year, schools collected over 46,000 lbs of food for the pantry! At the end of the challenge, the winning school is awarded a $1,000 cash prize, and three participating schools have the chance to win $500 each. Thank you to our amazing Sun Prairie elementary school partners and to the Bank of Sun Prairie for helping us make this drive happen!

C.A.R.D.S. Closet Needs

Sunshine Place's C.A.R.D.S. Closet kid's clothing program provides referred families with a FREE, private, dignified, 30-minute shopping appointment for their children, 4 times a year.

C.A.R.D.S. Closet is currently in our LAST PUSH for winter clothing donations as we get closer to spring. Look for school-age winter gear on sale or donate your children's gear they have outgrown to help us stock up for next year! Donate now, OR get your donations together and save the date for April 12th, when our C.A.R.D.S. Closet youth board will come right to your house to pick up your donations. Registration required. See flyer below for details.

*Winter gear should be gently used/like new.

(All donations can be dropped off inside the C.A.R.D.S. Closet donation bin at 1632 W. Main St., open Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM) 

Click here to learn more about C.A.R.D.S. Closet or click the button below and choose "C.A.R.D.S. Closet" from the donation options drop-down to donate funds directly to the program.

Staff Spotlight: Jennifer Alvarez, Bilingual Early Childhood Zone Housing Case Manager

Time working at Sunshine Place:
I’ve been working at Sunshine Place for about a year now — and honestly, it feels like I’ve been here so much longer!

What is one of your favorite memories from working here? 

It’s hard to choose just one, but one of my favorite moments is seeing our families transition into safe, stable housing. I strongly believe housing is a human right, and being able to witness the happiness and relief on their faces is so powerful.

What do you wish more people knew about Sunshine Place and/or about your role here? 

I wish more people in the Sun Prairie and Marshall community knew about our Emergency Assistance Utility program. When new families come in and learn about this support, you can see the relief on their faces knowing we’re here to help. It’s such a useful resource, and I’d love for more people to be aware of it.

What is a fun fact about you that may surprise people? 

A fun fact about me? I LOVE fishing! The only catch? I can’t stand putting worms on the hook. Doesn’t make much sense, right?! I just love the calm and relaxation of being out on the water.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

We are so grateful to the groups, businesses, and individuals who have recently volunteered, donated, and organized drives or events to support our mission. Sunshine Place programs are possible thanks to our community’s generosity and commitment to helping one another.

Below are just a few photo highlights showcasing recent support. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see more stories of impact and kindness.

A record number of families and individuals are turning to us for help with food, housing, and other essential needs. Your support ensures our neighbors can find hope and help at Sunshine Place when they need it most. Thank you!