The vision for The River Food Pantry is simple. To provide nutritional food to help as many families and individuals who are having a difficult time making ends meet. Unlike typical pantry models, The River allows clients to visit weekly and similar to a grocery store, clients choose their groceries from shelves constantly stocked with canned protein, canned vegetables, cooking oil, flour, rice, meat, dairy and fresh produce. In 2016, The River distributed 2. 3 million pounds of food. Each year the demand for pantry services increases. 39% of the individuals served by The River are children and another 22% are seniors. More than half of the people served at The River are our county's most vulnerable citizens.

The River Food Pantry helps families and individuals who are struggling by providing free groceries, clothing and hot meals. The River has five open pantry sessions a week where visitors are able to shop the pantry for groceries, clothes, and enjoy a hot meal. In 2016, The River launched a mobile lunch program, Madison Unites to Nourish Children at Home (MUNCH), which distributes lunches to children and teens directly in their neighborhoods every weekend and non-school day. Friday evening dinners at The River are replete with donated bouquets of flowers and live music as often as possible. The music and flowers have a transforming effect and add to the caring and congenial ambiance of the pantry. Many in The River community, volunteers and clients alike, think of Friday nights at The River as "date night". With over 650 households visiting the pantry each week, donated food is insufficient to stock the pantry shelves. 97 cents of every dollar goes to providing food and services. In 2015, The River spent approximately $192,000 to purchase quality, nutritional food. The partnerships with local food banks and wholesalers, $192,000 will purchase $1. 92 million dollars' worth of food at retail price.

For the past eleven years, The River Food Pantry has provided nutritional food to thousands of low-income families in Dane County that struggle to make ends meet. The River strives to foster a welcoming community committed to lending a helping hand to people in need, judgment free. There are no limits on the number of people served per day or per week, meaning all who come leave with enough groceries to get through the week. Although it would be far cheaper and easier to stock the pantry with junk food, there is always a wide selection of healthy foods for people to pick from at The River. The River has been successfully funded by funds to purchase food for distribution. The River would not be able to serve over 650 households a week without the help of volunteers. In 2015, The River received 40,810 hours of volunteer service. Volunteers are needed during pantry sessions to help distribute food, load groceries in vehicles and serve community meals. Volunteers are also needed for MUNCH, to make sandwiches and distribute them to children directly at north side neighborhoods.

The River Food Pantry weighs every donation received and every pound of food distributed. Each year the amount of distributed food has increased. In 2006, The River Food Pantry expected to serve 100 families a week. Eleven years later, The River now serves over 650 families weekly and distributes 48,000 pounds of food. The need is great and the number of people served each year continues to grow.

The River Food Pantry is Dane County's busiest food pantries. Unlike typical pantry models, The River allows clients to choose what foods they receive. Individuals and families are equipped with a shopping cart and select their own groceries from the shelves. The River Food Pantry's founders, Andy and Jenny Czerkas, received significant recognition in 2011 for their work with The River Food Pantry. They won a Wisconsin Jefferson Award for Public Service and received a national Jefferson Award in Washington DC. The River's directors were highlighted by Madison Magazine as one of its "People of the Year. " Andy Czerkas also received an Inspire Award from AARP The Magazine and was named 'Hunger Hero' by the AARP Foundation. In 2016, The River Food Pantry added two more community meals. Providing 5 meals a week instead of three helps feed more people in Dane County. Now The river serves roughly 2,000 meals a month.