EUA is excited to have recently completed improvements to the Badger Prairie Food Pantry facility, part of the Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN) in Verona, WI. Over the past 34 years, the food pantry has evolved from a small closet in a local church a 9,000 sq ft facility, and one of the busiest food pantries in Dane County. With the help of Ideal Builders, EUA added a loading dock, as well as new, large freezers and coolers to better serve the growing number of community members in need. 100% volunteer run, the food pantry served over 14,000 individuals in 2019, and with the onset of COVID-19 and increase in unemployment, they are on track to serve over 20,000 by the end of 2020. "Food insecurity is real for too many in our community. Odds are, you may know of someone who needs help from organizations like BPNN, especially in light of high unemployment, low wages or bridging an unexpected expense." (BPNN)
The Badger Prairie Food Pantry carries a wide variety of healthy fresh and frozen produce dairy and proteins as well as packaged goods with the help of other community forces for good, such as Second Harvest, the Community Action Coalition, various community food drives and cash donations. Their food recovery program also provides items donated from area grocers and ready-to-eat food from local companies with cafeteria services. Recovered food is also served during their free community meal offered on the 1st and 3rd Saturday each month from 11:30am - 12:45pm.