Sustainability at the Sun Prairie Food Pantry

On a clear, summer morning outside the Sun Prairie Food Pantry, the humidity hangs heavy. The outer walls soak in the sun, and a line of clients lean against the warm bricks waiting for the pantry to open, sometimes up to an hour or more ahead of time.

Whatever the season, clients show up, and the need for the Sun Prairie Food Pantry continues to rise. Pantry visits are projected to increase by over 175% this year. With demand this high, environmental sustainability is a must, not just for our planet, but because it supports the long-term stability of the pantry. The Sun Prairie Food Pantry, led by Food Security Manager, Catie Badsing, has been intentional about building sustainability measures into its operations.

Sustainability in the food pantry takes a multi-pronged approach that continues to evolve. There are 3 major ways sustainability is currently addressed: food recovery, distribution/disposal, and local connections/fresh produce.

Food Recovery

Pantry items come to the pantry one of four ways: 1) Donated from the community, 2) Distributed to us through Second Harvest Food Bank, 3) Purchased from wholesalers using pantry funds, and 4) Recovery.

Recovery is when food that is still good to eat goes to the people who need it, instead of ending up in a landfill. This year, recovery is on track to make up 27% of our food intake. Recovered food for the pantry comes from partnerships with local retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants, who have a set schedule for recovery pick-up. Currently, Sunshine Place has 13 partner locations for our recovery process, and getting items from there to here is made possible by our amazing volunteers. Sunshine Place volunteers use their own cars or pantry transportation to bring items from businesses to the pantry. Additional volunteers sort through foods and ensure that everything put out on the floor or lobby meets a standard of quality that upholds the dignity of the shopper. 

Distribution & Disposal

The pantry further addresses sustainability through the distribution and disposal process of our pantry products. Just over 98% of Sun Prairie pantry products went directly to pantry shoppers who rely on that support to survive and thrive. With national food waste estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply, that’s a big deal. In 2024, only .5% of the food we took in ended up in a landfill. The remaining 1.4% that is pulled from distribution is composted through a local Sun Prairie company, Green Box Compost, who then sells the compost for people to use in their gardens. Composting, a process of adding broken down food waste to enrich soil for gardens and farms, not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, it adds crucial nutrients to the soil that improves plant growth and attracts pollinators, while retaining soil moisture and preventing soil erosion. The resulting product helps to support agricultural systems that feed people. Last year the Sun Prairie Food Pantry composted 24 thousand pounds of food, all while supporting the local economy. 

The Sun Prairie Food Pantry participated in this program last year and distributed produce alongside typical pantry items, but found that a focus on produce led to less waste. This prompted the creation of the Good Neighbor Markets. These markets are advertised and set up in the Sunshine Place parking lot just like any other farmer’s market, with fresh, seasonal produce such as radishes, asparagus, greens, and even flowers, arranged on long tables. A visit to the Good Neighbor Market does not count towards a pantry client’s regular pantry visits. Community members can come and take whatever they need, and food pantry volunteers are available to bag or assist. The Sun Prairie Food Pantry received 2,000 pounds of produce from the first delivery this summer, and 98% of that was distributed through the Good Neighbor Market and pantry. These markets provide access to healthy foods that people may not otherwise have, support local growers, and give the pantry the opportunity to strengthen relationships within the community we serve. Stay tuned to our social media and the food pantry website for upcoming market dates.

As need for the Sun Prairie Food Pantry continues to grow, it is our goal to see sustainability efforts grow as well. We are proud of all we have accomplished so far, but we can’t continue this important work without your support! Learn more about how you can help the Sun Prairie Food Pantry, or donate below, to support our efforts.

It's Time to Stuff the Bus!
Help Us Prepare 2,000 Local Kids for School

It may be summer, but our Stuff the Bus Program is gearing up to provide a record 2,000 kids with backpacks and school supplies in August! We need your help to make that happen.

Why does this matter?

Ensuring kids have the supplies they need to be prepared for school helps bridge a crucial gap for low-income families. Children who have what they need to start the school year have one less obstable to engaging and learning, while their caregivers have peace-of-mind knowing that their child is equipped for school at no cost to them. Academic success starts with the bare minimum of ensuring all children have the supplies required to participate in class.

Every child deserves to start a new school year ready and prepared to learn. Here's How You Can Help:

• Donate to the Stuff the Bus fund so we can purchase what is most needed. 
• Buy a backpack from our wish list
• Learn more about the impact of programs like these  
• Participate in the Summer Kids Challenge to help us raise funds for Stuff the Bus, and for the chance to win a year of free frozen custard from Culver's!

*A special shout-out to our Stuff the Bus sponsors, who have helped us start strong: Madison4Kids, Sun Prairie Education Foundation, Sun Prairie Rotarians, and our founding sponsors, Bank of Sun Prairie, and Larry (Smokey) Anderson - American Family Insurance Agent.

Our School's Out! Summer Food Fight Competition was a Huge Success!

Our first ever Summer Food Fight brought in over 3,000 lbs of food to the Sun Prairie Food Pantry! A HUGE thanks to all of our donors, and to our participating businesses for partnering with us to keep food on the tables of local families: Ager Chiropractic Wellness Center, Bank of Sun Prairie, Independent Pharmacy Cooperative, One Community Bank, QBE North America, Royle Printing, Sun Prairie Utilities, TST Engineered Coating Solutions, The Insurance Center, Pro-Active Engineering, Dupaco Community Credit Union, AND a special shout-out to our Food Fight WINNER, Sunny Nutrition, who collected 68 lbs/employee!

Our Summer Food Fight may be over, but hunger remains, and demand for our food pantry continues to grow. Learn more about how you can help, or donate to support our pantry below.

Our Own Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator, Leticia Hockenberry, 2025 Hometown Housing Hero  

Big things are happening over at Sunshine Place! Sun Prairie was named a model community at the latest Dane County Regional Housing Strategy meeting, and Sunshine Place's amazing Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator, Leticia Hockenberry, was awarded a Hometown Housing Hero Award for her meaningful work on housing within the Sun Prairie community. Leticia is a member of the Sun Prairie Housing Coalition, who presented at the meeting about some of the great work they are doing in our community. We couldn't be prouder to have Leticia on our team! Her dedication and advocacy are unmatched. Congrats, Leticia, and to all of the Hometown Housing Hero Award recipients! And a special shout-out to former Mayor Esser who was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive work in housing that laid the foundation for work being done today!

Program Story Spotlight: Sunshine Supper

"A man came in to get two meals, one for him and one for his brother.  He shared that his brother was injured and unable to work. He talked about having to transfer his brother from bed to chair and back again, and said that he is unable to work as much as he would like to because of being his brother's caretaker. He expressed appreciation for the meal, and I am grateful for this small way Sunshine Place could take care of this man so that he has energy to continue to care for his brother."

- Sunshine Supper Volunteer

Are you a Sunshine Place client or volunteer with a story to share? Send your stories to socialmedia@sunshineplace.org. 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. The impact of Sunshine Place programs is only possible because of our community’s generosity and commitment to helping one another.

Click below to see just a few highlights showcasing recent support. You can tap to pause as it plays if needed. 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!