The Beaver Dam Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry occurs throughout the year on the second Saturday of each month. The December 10 mobile pantry will take place at the Dodge County Fairgrounds from 10:00-11:30 am.  Attendees should dress warm this month, as the facility is not heated.  The mobile food pantry will take place in the shelter under the grandstand.  Participants are also asked to bring their own boxes, bags and containers to transport the items they have received.  Registration will begin at 9:45 am.  No pre-registration is necessary.

Anyone currently experiencing challenges are welcome to attend.  No identification or proof of residence is required – and no one will be turned away.  However, basic household income information will be collected via a self-reported survey.

Approximately sixty pounds of food are distributed to each household in need every month.  Over 250 families are served monthly, which typically includes over 650 individuals, 250 children and more than 150 seniors.  Even in these colder months, fresh foods will be available – along with frozen and dry goods.

Donations will definitely make a difference – in several different ways – this holiday season.  The mobile food pantry seeks volunteered time, generous food donations and monetary contributions to help end hunger in the Dodge County community.

The mobile pantry is sponsored and operated by local community volunteers and Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin.  If you are interested in volunteering your time or services for the December mobile food pantry or any events in the future, please contact Laura Moon at [email protected] or (608) 216-7202.  No ongoing commitment is required and there are many ways to volunteer your time before, during and after each event.  The mobile food pantry enlists more than sixty volunteers each month to run the pantry efficiently for all of its patrons.

If you are limited on time this holiday season but are interested in helping end hunger in the community, you may donate funds directly to the Second Harvest FoodBank of Southern Wisconsin.  Funds may be donated online (https://donate.secondharvestmadison.org/) or by contacting Katie Ishmael at [email protected] (608) 216-7220.  A one-time $50 donation will yield 150 meals to a person in need this holiday season.

Food donations may be delivered in person to the Dodge County Food Pantry, 134 South Spring Street, Beaver Dam.  Donations are accepted Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:00 am – 4:30 pm or call (920) 885-6971 for a pick-up from your location.

by Jamie Adcock author of runningdivamom.com and sunprairiemom.com