Food Drives Keep the Pantry Shelves Stocked
& Youth Engaged |
As school winds down and we near the summer months, we want to remind Sunshine Place supporters about how crucial donation drives are to keeping Sunshine Pantry stocked. Summertime is one of our highest demand times for the pantry, when food assistance support through schools is unavailable. Unfortunately, the summer months are also one of our pantry program’s lowest donation times. While monetary donations are incredibly helpful to the pantry program, allowing us to purchase more items for less money through our relationships with wholesale distributors, product donation drives also help us meet the needs of our pantry shoppers year-round, and keep variety on the shelf.
We have been incredibly fortunate to have numerous groups and individuals host donation drives over the years. In particular, donation drives are a popular way for youth to engage with Sunshine Pantry. Sun Prairie Meals Matter, a group of local high school students, have had 10 donation drives for the pantry program to date, some on their own, and some in collaboration with other youth groups. Their efforts have raised an incredible 20,833 lbs in product donations and $7,386 for the pantry! |
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High school student Kate Noack, a member of Sun Prairie Meals Matter, suggests that youth who want to make an impact in their community by supporting a Sunshine Place program like the pantry, start by finding a unique way to collect donations or advocate for the program. She adds that she has found many people are willing to help youth groups like hers with their efforts, and recommends connecting with Sunshine Place, your school principals and administrators, and local businesses for support. |
“Hosting drives for Sunshine Place has shown me how powerful students can be when we come together to support our community,” says Kate. “Seeing the direct impact our donations have on the pantry makes the work feel important, and it has been awesome to see how students bond over the shared effort and passion for volunteering, creating a strong sense of community within our volunteers. Once youth can come together around a shared goal, it creates an amazing sense of community and inspires others to get involved too.” |
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Donation drives such as our annual School Challenge, where Sun Prairie elementary schools compete to collect the most in-kind donations for the pantry program, provide opportunities for youth engagement on a larger scale that involves the entire school community. These types of events not only get youth involved and excited about giving back to the community through Sunshine Pantry, they make a significant impact for our pantry shoppers. This year, the School Challenge collected 26,000 lbs of pantry donations combined. |
Food drives are a great way to engage youth, but they are also a fantastic opportunity for adults, families, work teams, and other groups to give back in a meaningful way. Such as the annual Stamp Out Hunger Drive spearheaded by the National Association of Letter Carriers' (NALC), which collected 7,602 lbs of product for Sunshine Pantry. We have also seen local businesses host drives and offer discounts to customers who bring in pantry donations, families asking for food donations to the pantry in lieu of birthday gifts, and community groups hosting drives at events as a way to connect with their community and give back as a team. The possibilities are endless, and no matter how large or small the drive, your efforts matter. |
Interested in hosting a product drive for Sunshine Pantry?
A great place to start is our Top Needs list. (Click the list to the right to enlarge or print).
You can also click here to check out our Food Drive Kits, which offer guidance on how to host and promote your pantry drive, and ideas for themes and timelines. Or come up with your own idea! |
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Are you a gardener?
If you are still planning out your planting for the spring or often end up with excess produce, consider planting a garden row for Sunshine Pantry!
We accept fresh produce from your garden as long as you follow these guidelines, and seasonal items are so appreciated by our pantry shoppers. (Click the image to the left to enlarge or print). |
Is your business looking to host a drive?
Our S.O.S. Food Fight Pantry Drive is a great opportunity. Participating businesses collect donations for our pantry program from June 11 - July 9, while we promote your business and participation through our outreach channels. The business who collects the most lbs of food wins bragging rights, and ALL participants help us stock the shelves of our pantry program. (Click the image to the right to learn more, or contact catie@sunshineplace.org). |
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Volunteer Appreciation Event Photo Gallery |
Thank you again to all of our absolutely amazing volunteers. Our programs are able to make a positive impact for our neighbors because of you! Additional thanks to Nowlan Law and Buck & Honey's for sponsoring! Enjoy some pictures from last month's Volunteer Appreciation event. ❤️ |
⚠️Volunteer Opportunity THIS WEEKEND⚠️ |
Have plans this weekend? No? Help us raise money for Sunshine Place!
One of our amazing volunteers, Beth, nominated us to be a part of Brat Fest for the second year in a row. For every hour you volunteer, $12 is donated to Sunshine Place. Last year we had 14 volunteers who donated their time and raised over $1,000. So far we have 12 people signed up and would love a few more volunteers ages 14+ to help us ensure Brat Fest is a success! From grilling to greeting, wrapping brats to restocking condiments—volunteers do it all! Let's get out there and brat for a good cause! |
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Volunteers receive:
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A Brat Fest t-shirt
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A Brat Buck (good for a brat, hot dog, corn, or soda)
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A free scoop of Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream
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Tons of fun & community building!
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The chance to support Sunshine Place and the programs our community depends on!
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Just 3 simple steps to become a Brat Fest volunteer this weekend!
✅ Click the button above
✅Select “Sunshine Place” as your charity
✅Choose your shifts (first come, first served).
You're all set! Brat Fest will send you a reminder about your shift. If you can’t make your shift for any reason, please cancel it in shift in Brat Fest's volunteer database, Bloomerang.
Reach out to Leticia with any questions! leticia@sunshineplace.org |
Good Neighbor Markets at Sunshine Pantry |
It's that time of year again! We are so grateful to our partners at Second Harvest for providing a generous supply of fresh veggies, herbs, and more, for our Good Neighbor Markets. These run similarly to a Farmer’s Market, with tables set outside in the parking lot in front of the pantry program entrance at 18 Rickel Road. These events are completely FREE and open to anyone in our community. Feel free to stop on by, or to share with someone you think may benefit. (Click the flyers below to enlarge). |
Save the Date for our annual fundraising event! |
Staff Spotlight: Kelly McClurg, Development & Communications Coordinator |
How long have you worked at Sunshine Place?
I officially hit one year this month! It feels like I have been here way longer though, in the best way.
What is one of your favorite memories from working here?
My favorite memories are getting to know my coworkers and our regular volunteers. It is such a fantastic community of people here, I am very lucky. One time that stands out from early on is having a really good belly laugh with some coworkers while discussing an issue, and realizing that this place was such a good fit for me in more ways than one.
What do you wish more people knew about Sunshine Place and/or about your role here?
I wish more people realized all of the many programs and initiatives we have here, and it is one of my goals in this role to ensure people do. Our pantry program is so important, and it is generally the most well-known. But we have various other programs that work together to provide a network of support for people, including housing assistance, clothing and beds for kids, free weekly meals, and more. Each of these supports our clients in a different but interconnected way, and that holistic approach is what makes us unique.
What can people find you doing when you're not at work?
I love to read, garden, go for walks, get dinner with my friends, snuggle my dog and two cats, and spend time with my girls, who are 6 and 8.
What is a fun fact about you that may surprise people?
I once took a solo road trip across the U.S. and back. I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and camped there, stayed at a hostel in L.A., and had a lot of adventures. |
*Community school pantries are stocked by Sunshine Place Food for Kids program staff.*
"We have a single mom who is raising three children with special needs. She has no vehicle and no support. She walked to school to shop the pantry because of her good relationship with the our school community. She was so grateful for close, walkable access and a chance for her children to enjoy food options like their peers."
- Sun Prairie Community School staff |
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. |
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! |
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