Businesses Support The FOOD Pantry
Business Partnerships: Fueling the Mission to End Hunger
At The FOOD Pantry, we know that it takes a community to feed a community — and our local business partners play a vital role in making our mission possible.
Every year, we are proud to collaborate with businesses of all sizes that step up in meaningful ways to support our work. Whether it's organizing food drives, awarding grant funding to support our mission, providing in-kind support, sponsoring fundraising events, growing gardens, serving our clients, or donating time and resources — these partnerships create a lasting impact on the lives of our neighbors facing hunger. In the communication below, we are going to highlight some of our business partners. Please note that this list is not inclusive of all the businesses and partners who support us and allow us to serve the community, but it allows us to highlight some of the ways businesses have supported our operation.
Food Drives & Fundraisers that Fill Our Shelves
Many businesses host employee-led food drives and fundraisers throughout the year, helping us stock our shelves with nutritious, high-demand items. These efforts not only supply essential food but also raise critical funds and increase awareness about food insecurity in our community.
So far in 2025, we’ve had 120 food drives — and some especially generous contributions include:
- Silgan Containers (Oconomowoc): Donated 29,500 pounds of canned soup
- Seneca Foods Corp (Janesville): Donated 23,000 pounds of canned vegetables
- Marian Milwaukee (Menomonee Falls): Donated nearly 1,000 pounds of food and $20,775 in employee and corporate match funds to support the mission
Grant Support & Financial Sponsorships
From small local businesses to large corporations, financial contributions and grant awards help sustain our operations and programming. These funds ensure that every individual who comes through our doors is met with dignity, compassion, and access to the food they need.
Highlights from 2024 include:
- Kohl’s Cares: Awarded $25,000 to The FOOD Pantry purchase food
- Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin: Contributed $9,500 for food and served as a “Friend” sponsor at our annual fundraising event
Highlights from 2025 include:
- Eaton: Served as a Champion Sponsor at our 2024 and 2025 annual fundraising event
- Advocate Aurora Health: Donated $3,000 for milk purchases
Gardens That Give Back
Several business partners maintain gardens dedicated to supporting The FOOD Pantry or host gleaning events to collect surplus produce. These donations ensure that our clients receive fresh, seasonal, and nutritious food that might otherwise be out of reach.
- Garden of Eaton (Eaton Corporation): Since 2016, staff have cultivated and donated nearly 10,000 pounds of produce.
- ProHealth Care Garden at Waukesha Memorial: Volunteers have cultivated and donated 7,600 pounds of produce since 2014.
- Gwenyn Hill Farms: Offers gleaning opportunities; in 2024, 670 pounds were donated, and 1,070 pounds gleaned so far in 2025.
- Pure Farms: Donated over 280 pounds of hydroponically grown lettuce.
Hosting Events That Make a Difference
Local businesses also support our mission by hosting fundraising events and donation campaigns — turning community engagement into real impact.
- Wilde Subaru - Subaru Share the Love Event: Since 2015, $408,800 has been donated from new vehicle purchases, leases, and maintenance during the Share the Love campaign. This year’s campaign is from November 20, 2025 to January 2, 2026. During that time, $250 from all new and newly leased vehicles and $5 from routine maintenance can support The FOOD Pantry.
- Meijer Simply Give Program: With double match days, for every $10 card purchased, the Pantry receives $30 in food-only gift cards to Meijer — totaling $297,900 in support since 2016.
- Avnet (Pewaukee): Hosted a 2025 golf outing, donating $14,000 to support our operation.
- Oliver Construction (Oconomowoc): Hosted a 2024 golf outing, raising $11,700 to support the Pantry’s mission.
In-Kind Donations That Power Our Work
Many businesses support The FOOD Pantry through generous in-kind donations, from professional services to supplies — helping us reduce operational costs so we can devote more resources to feeding families.
Recent contributions include:
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 494: Donated and installed $6,300 in LED lighting for our warehouse — improving visibility and reducing energy costs
- Central Office Services: Provides ongoing IT support, valued at over $3,000
- CityPress: Donated printing services for our fundraising event
- Lakeland Supply & Home Depot: Provided boxes and packing supplies essential for food distribution
Serving Our Clients with Care
Some business partners go beyond donations by directly serving our clients. For example:
- ProHealth Care: Provides outreach nurses who host immunization clinics and connect clients with critical resources, including cancer screenings for uninsured and underinsured individuals. ProHealth Care also recognizes the importance of The FOOD Pantry as an advocate sponsor for our fundraising event.
Volunteerism That Builds Community
Corporate volunteer teams are always a welcome presence at The FOOD Pantry. Whether it’s sorting donations, repacking bulk food, or packing boxes for distribution, these teams bring energy, teamwork, and a shared commitment to service.
Thank You to Our Business Partners
To every business that has supported The FOOD Pantry — thank you. Your generosity provides more than food. It offers hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging to those who need it most.
Interested in becoming a business partner? Contact Community Engagement Coordinator to explore partnership opportunities.
Tags in this Post: Community , Volunteering , Food Drive
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