When the River Food Pantry first began, Andy Czerkas and his wife Jenny assumed that they would serve 100 families each week. In reality, approximately 600 families come in each week to take advantage of the 25,000 pounds of food given away.
At the River Food Pantry, dinner is served by volunteers twice a week. On Fridays, they set up a children’s area, as well as give rides home and set flowers on the tables for families to take home. They’ve also had live music entertainment and nurses providing blood pressure and blood sugar testing. On a regular day, they give away food, clothing, household furnishings, and toys.
Most importantly, Czerkas, a Computer Programming instructor at Madison Area Technical College, would like students to know that these services are available to them as well. The food pantry was founded on the basis of serving those who unable to financially provide for themselves or their families. Many students are in that position. Students may self-declare their needs, and utilize the services that the food pantry offers numerous times. When people come in, they will sign a statement saying they make less than 200 percent of the poverty rate. For a family of three, that amounts to about $37,000 salary.
The River Food Pantry is also always in need of more volunteers. Czerkas said that someone intending to volunteer comes in half an hour before the pantry starts, they will receive “on the spot” training. Volunteers often times help cook, serve dinner, clean, perform stocking tasks, help give the food away, carry food out to patrons’ cars, and give people rides home. They have many repeat volunteers from UW-Madison that have been returning for years. On a Friday night, Czerkas said they usually see about 45-50 volunteers. Around the holidays, this number increases to 60 or 70.
“Last year we had over 32,000 hours of volunteer labor,” Czerkas said. “This year it’ll be more.”
Since the food pantry started almost exactly six years ago, on Nov. 1, many improvements have been made. When it began, it was just an old warehouse. Since then, Andy and Jenny Czerkas have painted the interior, installed plumbing and bathrooms, and built offices. They also obtained new kitchen and food storage equipment.
Czerkas’ efforts have not gone unrecognized. They have received a North Side award and a United Way award twice. This year, they received a Jefferson award from Channel 27, who also nominated them for a national award in D.C., which they also received. They were also recognized in the latest issue of Madison Magazine. However, Czerkas said that the recognition is not what this is all about.
“The recognition for the pantry is really good because it’s necessary to have public recognition in order to attract people that can help us financially,” he said. “That’s what we’re really interested in.”
Most of the food provided to the River Food Pantry comes from the Second Harvest Foodbank. They also buy food wholesale, obtain food from the Community Action Coalition, and receive donations from Cub Foods. Food banks also help some.
“It’s a really important part of our lives,” Czerkas said. “It’s not just something we’re doing. It’s something we really feel called to do, and we really like it. I can’t think of anything else we’d rather be doing. We want to give lots of opportunities to people, and help serve people that need help.”
The pantry is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Czerkas encourages all students who may be in need of food pantry services to look up the hours online, at riverfoodpantry.org. It is located at 2201 Darwin Rd. in Madison.