Food drive aims to help pantries during slow donation season

As the weather gets warmer, local food pantries say it's harder to keep the shelves stocked.

People aren’t donating like they do around the holidays. The River Food Pantry says despite donations being down, the need is staying consistent.

The pantry helps 650 families throughout the Dane County area, providing roughly 48,000 pounds of food each week.

To help keep the shelves stocked during the summer months, State Bank of Cross Plains is hosting a food drive.

The drive is part of National Community Bank Month. The bank’s nine locations will collect food from April 3 until April 21. The food will be distributed to eight local food pantries.

• The River Food Pantry of Madison

• Waunakee Food Pantry

• Oregon Area Food Pantry

• Mount Horeb Food Pantry

• Badger Prairie Needs Network of Verona

• MOMs of Middleton

• Mazomanie Food Pantry

• Heights Unlimited of Black Earth

Each bank location is collecting nonperishable items, or monetary donations.

If you make a donation you can also enter to win a $50 grocery gift certificate for yourself.

In addition to making a donation, you can enter the Supermarket Sweeps event. In May one winner from each bank will race the clock to fill a grocery cart for a local food bank.

For more information visit State Bank of Cross Plains’ website at http://info.crossplainsbank.com/giveback