Challenge Food Insecurity for Hunger Action Month

Above: Sunshine Place staff and volunteers recently attended the Sun Prairie City Council's official proclamation announcement of September as Hunger Action Month. 

We all know food is essential. When our food needs are fulfilled, we are healthier, we have more energy, we can focus on tasks beyond finding our next meal – we just generally function better. But food doesn’t only meet a physical need, it ties into our emotional needs as well. Food can be a symbol of celebration at a holiday gathering. It can be the nostalgia of a favorite childhood meal. Food can be a foundational aspect of someone’s culture, the bringing together of family, or the remembrance of a loved one whose recipe revives their memory. Food means survival, but it also means community, comfort, memories, and joy. Everyone deserves access to that.

Demand for the Sun Prairie Food Pantry reflects this trend as it continues to climb annually. Pantry visits are projected to increase by 175% this year. Fighting food insecurity in our community takes a community effort. The Sun Prairie Food Pantry strives every day of every month to be a stable source of food and a dignified shopping experience for those in need. This means providing basic self-care items and food needed to survive. But this also means being responsive to the diverse needs of our shoppers, and ensuring our pantry products reflect those needs so people can thrive. This is important work, and we can’t continue to do it without your support. 

Take Action
This Hunger Action Month we ask that you join us in taking concrete action against hunger in the Sun Prairie community. Our most valuable asset in pushing back against hunger is supporters like you. Here are some easy ways you can help fight hunger in our community:

1. Make a Financial Donation: As demand for our pantry services increase while food prices go up, your donations keep our shelves stocked and our foundation strong. DONATE TODAY.

2. Volunteer: Our food pantry has a variety of volunteer opportunities, and we are always looking for motivated, caring people to join the team. Click here to learn more, or reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@sunshineplace.org.

5. Be an Advocate: Let others know about Sunshine Place's Sun Prairie Food Pantry program. Share our events and updates in person and through social media with #HungerActionMonth and #SunshinePlace. Start by sharing our Stuff the Truck Event below, and keep an eye out for our Thanksgiving basket sponsorship opportunities coming soon! Talk about your experiences and engagement with our services, and speak up when local legislation and decisions may affect how we serve our shared community. Pay attention and speak to state and federal level issues too, that may impact us locally. Your voice matters.

Thank you for your continued support this Hunger Action Month and beyond!

That's a Wrap on Summer Lunches for the Season!

Through intense heat, snow, or rainy days, our amazing Food Security Programs Coordinator, Marly, (pictured above on her last day of summer lunches for 2025), shows up to support the kids in our community with a smile. She is the driving force behind Food for Kids programs like summer lunches and we are so grateful she is on our team.

With the help of our amazing community, Sunshine Place provided a total of almost 7,000 lunches to local kids this summer. Parents shared that their kids looked forward to summer lunches every week and they are excited for the return of summer lunches next year!

A HUGE thank you to our summer lunch partners, Sun Prairie Community Schools and Prairie Music and Arts, and a final thanks to EVERYONE who sponsored lunches, helped package lunches, donated extras from their businesses, or took time to send a donation to Food for Kids to keep programs like summer lunches going strong. We could not do this without you. 

How You can Help

Food for Kids programs are able to support local children and their families thanks to generous community members like you! 

• Host a fundraiser to benefit Food for Kids. This could be a lemonade stand, a bake sale, or whatever makes sense for you and your interests. Bring a friend group together to make it fun, or involve your kids and make it a family learning opportunity.
• Spread the word about all of the great work Sunshine Place's Food for Kids programs are doing in our community. The greater our support base, the greater our impact.
• Click below to donate, and make sure to select “Food for Kids" when you make your donation.

Program Story Spotlight: Sun Prairie Food Pantry

"I arrived in Wisconsin from another country with two little children and two suitcases. I lived for a month with my brother until I found the apartment where we would start our life. I fled my country because of so much domestic violence that surrounded my family. I wanted to break generational chains and give them a new opportunity at a different life. One day I decided to go look for food for my children but what I found was much more than that. What I found was a hand to hold and a hug that gave me strength. In my prayers, I would promise God that once my children were older I would go volunteer at the food pantry. Today I can proudly say that I am part of that same group of volunteers that get together and lovingly help those who come hungry, sad, or may need the same help that I needed years ago. Today I feel greatly blessed that I can help others and open my arms to provide a hug to those who may need it the most."

- Sunshine Place, Sun Prairie Food Pantry client/volunteer

Are you a Sunshine Place client or volunteer 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.

Program & Partner Meeting

We enjoyed some very fruitful updates, conversations, and networking opportunities at our recent Program and Partner meeting! Thank you to all who attended, including Sunshine Place staff, representatives from our onsite partner agencies, our volunteer program leads, select board members, alders, Senator Melissa Ratcliff, and a representative from Congressman Mark Pocan. We appreciate your time and attention! 

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!