Skip Navigation

Media coverage about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison.

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

Baldwin-Williamson Street Project

Thrift Stores

Food Pantry

When Barry needed help, he turned to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Your gift this summer can help him and other senior citizens who live alone. You’ll provide food, peace of mind, and the assurance that someone cares! Make your gift here.

 

Dear friend,

Barry was a frequent Tuesday shopper at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry for many years. He always took the bus to come in with his trusty compact shopping cart and quick wit.

When Madison Metro Transit changed bus routes and schedules back in 2023, Barry* couldn’t get to the pantry anymore. He was worried about how and where he would get food and personal care items.

More of Barry’s story is below. Before I get there, let me share how you can be a big help for someone like him.

Right now, you can deliver both hope and groceries to Barry and other senior citizens like him who live alone. You can ease their suffering and stress by providing food delivered to them at home!

 

————————————————————————————————————————

Donate to Feed Hungry Families

Donate

————————————————————————————————————————

 

In 2022, roughly 53,000 people (about 9% of Dane County’s population) faced food insecurity. Neighbors in this situation either don’t have enough food to eat or don’t know where their next meal will come from. They may not have enough money to buy food, live far from a grocery store, or lack reliable transportation.

Your gift is urgently needed today to provide food for our neighbors facing food insecurity. Without your support neighbors must reduce the amount of food they eat or cut back on meals which can lead to unhealthy eating habits and chronic disease.

It currently costs our pantry $140 to provide two weeks of meals for one family. That means if you give $140 right now, you’ll cover fourteen days of breakfast, lunch, and dinner for one family!

Getting to the food pantry had become very difficult for Barry. The bus route he relied on changed a few years ago. What used to be a convenient bus stop next to the pantry was now a long journey over several blocks. Barry struggled to walk and transport his food across this distance due to his age and physical limitations.

When the pantry launched an online ordering system, Barry breathed a sigh of relief. He was pleased he could order exactly what food and personal care items he needed, and was even more encouraged to know he didn’t have to venture to the pantry in-person. Getting food delivered right to his door meant he didn’t have to worry about where his next meal would come from.

Barry is one of the many neighbors who need just a little extra help to get by. Some neighbors live with disabilities or chronic health challenges. Others don’t have reliable internet access, a phone, or transportation. Often, neighbors don’t have the knowledge or technology to use the online ordering system, and the pantry staff will go above and beyond to complete their order for them. Thanks to you, none of these challenges prevents people from getting food from the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.

 

Above: Barry looking at a medicine bottle. Your gift today will provide food to neighbors like him. Even better, for elderly neighbors or those without transportation, food is delivered from the pantry right to them!

 

Your gift today will provide food to neighbors like Barry. Even better, for elderly neighbors or those without transportation, food is delivered from the pantry right to them!

Access to food is critical for good physical and social health. When people don’t have regular access to food, especially healthy food, they can fall into unhealthy eating habits. This, in turn, can contribute to chronic disease, expensive healthcare costs, difficulty finding work, and lower household income. Low-income families must, in turn, make trade-offs in what they can purchase: food or utilities, food or medical care, food or education.

You can stop this cycle! With your donation today, you can support good physical and social health with reliable access to food. You’ll also provide peace of mind and the assurance that someone cares!

 

————————————————————————————————————————

Donate to Feed Hungry Families

Donate

————————————————————————————————————————

 

Your $140 donation today will be immediately working tomorrow to help our neighbors in need. Give now to provide food to senior citizens like Barry.

I know you care about alleviating suffering, especially for neighbors right here in Dane County. You say “yes” when needs arrive, and I thank you for your compassion.

Nearly 11% of Dane County’s population faced food insecurity in 2023. Neighbors like Barry don’t always have enough food to eat or know where their next meal will come from. Now is your chance to prevent this situation! Donate now to deliver hope and groceries to neighbors in need.

In gratitude for you,

 

Julie Bennett

CEO & Executive Director

Woman stands next to a shelf of food in a pantry

 

PS. Rush your gift by August 31st to provide food to struggling families. Just $140 can provide two weeks of meals for one family!

 

*Name changed to protect the neighbor’s privacy

Donor Advised Funds

As we navigate through 2026, new federal tax law changes—including higher standard deductions and a new 0.5% Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) floor for itemized deductions—may affect how charitable gifts provide tax benefits. In light of these changes, a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) may be a valuable giving option.

DAFs allow donors to use a strategy often called “bunching.” By contributing multiple years’ worth of charitable gifts into a DAF during a higher-income year, you may be able to maximize your tax deduction (especially when giving appreciated assets) while retaining the flexibility to recommend grants to nonprofits over time.

DAF Benefits

If you would like to discuss this type of giving, please contact Eric Fleming, Director of Development, at (608) 442-7200 x34 or efleming@svdpmadison.org.

Megan recently moved from Arizona to Wisconsin after leaving a difficult relationship. During this time of urgent need, she turned to payday loans for fast cash, but quickly faced a frustrating and unachievable payment plan. She connected with St. Vincent de Paul — Madison’s microlending program and is now on a path towards financial stability.

Your compassionate support of SVdP Madison means neighbors facing crisis don’t have to walk alone. Launched in 2024, the microlending program offers small-dollar loans to help people consolidate debt and become financially stable. Loans range from $400 to $2,500 with low interest rates and flexible repayment plans through Bank of Sun Prairie or Lake Ridge Bank.

Microloans are a safe alternative to predatory payday or auto title loans, which cause immediate and long-term financial harm. Wisconsin remains one of the few states without interest rate limits, and the average annual percentage rate on payday loans made to Wisconsin consumers during 2025 was 600%. Both payday loans and microloans are designed to help working families cover urgent expenses like car repairs, rent, or utility bills when money is tight. But while payday loans often trap borrowers in cycles of debt, microloans are designed to create long-term stability.

Through the microlending program, borrowers receive financial education and establish relationships with local banks, helping them build stable credit and a stronger financial future. Thanks to you, this program remains a big assist in helping neighbors in need out of poverty.

Your compassionate support of SVdP Madison means neighbors like Megan facing crisis don’t have to walk alone.

Unexpected Expenses Lead to Emergency

While Megan was in the process of moving, she faced several unexpected expenses, and opened a payday loan to cover immediate bills. Between moving services, packing supplies, cleaning fees, furniture replacement, and an apartment down payment, she didn’t have enough cash to pay everything. A payday loan seemed like the only option, and it was quick. She took out a loan for $900 from a local payday lender, with an interest rate of 210%.

Once established, the interest rate on the payday loan kept increasing. Megan knew she was never going to be able to pay it back as she was working on paying off student loans and a few weeks away from starting her new job. Frustrated and overwhelmed with the situation, Megan reached out to The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. There she connected with an intake specialist who referred her to the SVdP Madison microlending program. Megan recalls the connection being a blessing in her life.

——————————————————————————

Donate to Support Microloans

Donate Now

——————————————————————————

Providing Help Without Judgement

The process to create a microloan with SVdP Madison was seamless and easy, Megan said. With help from SVdP Madison staff, Megan established a new loan with Lake Ridge Bank and successfully closed out of her payday loan. She’s now paying back the loan at a manageable 10% interest; just $50 per month. She appreciates being with a bank to help build credit and make solid payments over time with a consistent interest rate.

Beyond the financial help, Megan felt that SVdP Madison and Lake Ridge Bank staff were personable, and provided help without judgement. She recalled feeling embarrassed at her situation and for using a payday loan, but praised staff for being kind and showing empathy in a difficult situation. She recalls SVdP Madison Services Coordinator Karla, being with her every step of the way.

“I don’t know if I could do it without her, honestly,” Megan said. “She made me feel normal.”

Thanks to the care of donors like you, Megan found financial stability and a path forward. Your support is crucial in helping other people just like Megan achieve confidence and financial stability. Donate to support microloans here.

Dylan’s Volunteer Story

Dylan first connected with St. Vincent de Paul — Madison last July through working at UW Health University Hospital. He had been looking for opportunities to help those less fortunate in Madison, specifically with an eye to help in a health-related field. After learning about our food pantry from his supervisor, he submitted a volunteer application that same evening, and began volunteering just two weeks later.

“My boss inspired me,” Dylan said. “I get to see him everyday, he’s the person that works the hardest that I know. He still finds time for everything outside of the hospital. It motivates you to go out and be a better person.”

Speaking about his favorite aspects of volunteering, Dylan emphasized the incredible impact providing food has on people’s lives. As a hospital employee he recognizes the undeniable impact food has on whole-body health. Providing food to families in need is a direct and substantial experience, he said.

————————————————————————————————————————

Join the Volunteer Team

Learn More

————————————————————————————————————————

“I’ve always wanted to give back by doing something tangible,” Dylan said. “I know there are people with big problems, and being a part of this community it’s my role to give back, and help in any small way I can. Many people don’t realize the long-term impact of food on health. But, if you have no food, you sometimes have no housing, and problems just get exacerbated.”

The people, fellow volunteers, and staff also keep him coming back. He’s appreciated getting to know the staff members on a personal level, and appreciates the camaraderie among volunteers. In the pantry, people of all backgrounds come together and work as a team making a supportive and inclusive environment.

“Volunteering teaches me about myself and the kind of person I want to become,” Dylan said. “If you’re looking for an experience with opportunities to contribute to something bigger, this is the place to go. You’ll find that everyone has a unique and individual story.”

 

Volunteering teaches me about myself and the kind of person I want to become. If you’re looking for an experience with opportunities to contribute to something bigger, this is the place to go. You’ll find that everyone has a unique and individual story.
– Dylan, pantry volunteer

Drive Change – 2026 SVdP Madison Car Raffle

MADISON, Wis. — The Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison is holding its “Drive Change – 2026 SVdP Madison Car Raffle,” offering community members the chance to win one of five brand-new vehicles while supporting charitable services for neighbors in need across Dane County.

Running May 4 through June 30, the raffle will fund SVdP Madison’s core programs, including its food pantry, charitable pharmacy, and housing assistance efforts. The organization serves more than 100,000 people each year.

Five winners will be drawn. Two 2026 Honda CR-Vs, two 2026 Nissan Rogues, and one 2026 Maxda CX-50 will be raffled off.

Tickets are $100 each, and only 5,000 are available.

Proceeds from the raffle will provide groceries, medications, rent assistance, and other essential support to Dane County families facing financial hardship.

How to participate:

Buy Tickets Here

 

The raffle drawing will take place on July 1, 2026, at 12:00 ppm at Russ Darrow Mazda of Madison. Winners do not need to be present to win. Learn more here.

Food assistance for struggling families in Dane County is possible thanks to you! Help families like Corrine’s stay fed and stable this summer. Your gift can provide two weeks of groceries and bring hope to neighbors facing hunger in Dane County.

 

Dear friend,

They had been here before. But never this bad.

Corrine turned the key a third time. Click.

That hollow sound told her what she already knew: her car’s battery was dead. And a new one would cost money she didn’t have.

She rested her head on the steering wheel and closed her eyes. For a moment, everything felt too heavy. Now Mia would be late for school. Corrine would be late for work. And the rent money she’d carefully set aside would have to go toward fixing her car.

She never thought life would unravel like this.

It wasn’t just the rent that worried her. She wondered how she would buy groceries this week, how she would pay the electricity bill, and how she could possibly afford a dress and shoes for Mia’s prom.

Friend, your gift of $140 can provide two weeks of food for families just like Corrine’s.

————————————————————————————————————————

Donate to Feed Hungry Families

Donate

————————————————————————————————————————

Spring is an expensive season for parents. End-of-year school activities start piling up. Summer camp registrations come due. When unexpected expenses hit, like a car battery dying, it can push struggling families over the edge.

Right now, you can help Corrine and hundreds of other parents just like her. You can be their bridge over troubled waters.

That morning, Corrine lost hours of pay waiting for a tow truck and for the battery to be replaced. Those lost wages put her at risk of not being able to pay her rent.

This is the painful reality too many neighbors face every day…

Friend, I’ll tell you more about what Corrine has been through in a moment. But first, I want to ask you something important.

Will you provide two weeks of food for a Dane County family with a gift of $140 today?

So many parents like Corrine turn to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison for help each week. Thanks to your support, no one has to be turned away.

Whether a family visits our drive-through pantry, orders groceries online, or receives a delivery at their doorstep, your generosity ensures they are met with food, kindness, and respect.

These are families who are working hard and doing everything they can to stay afloat. Families who show incredible resilience, yet remain just one unexpected setback away from hunger or homelessness.

Right now, you can be the lifeline that keeps families stable. You can be the reason someone finds hope instead of despair and food instead of an empty refrigerator.

Every day, gifts from supporters like you help feed local families. Families with hardworking parents like Corrine.

Corrine works as a package handler for a shipping company. On weekends, she takes extra shifts as a hotel night auditor. She has always been careful with her money. But even with two jobs, it’s never quite enough.

Then her car battery died.

Suddenly, the money she had budgeted for groceries had to go somewhere else. She didn’t have any savings for emergencies.

————————————————————————————————————————

Donate to Feed Hungry Families

Donate

————————————————————————————————————————

That’s when you step in, friend.

Corrine’s greatest worry isn’t herself; it’s her daughter Mia.

Mia is a bright student with dreams of going to college. But when healthy food is scarce, it’s harder for her growing body and mind to keep up.

“I know she feels embarrassed when friends stop by after school, and we don’t have food in the house,” Corrine said. “I don’t want her feeling hungry or bad about our situation.”

Your gift today can ease both their hunger and embarrassment.

Right now, it costs about $140 for our pantry to provide a standard food package of two full weeks of meals for a family.

Your kindness fills plates and bellies. But it also fills hearts with relief and gratitude.

Because of you, parents like Corrine can care for their children with dignity. Because of you, Corrine can keep her car running, continue working, pay the rent, and know that Mia will have enough to eat. Because of you, struggling neighbors know they’re not alone.

Friend, your compassion is especially needed right now.

With the school year ending soon, many children lose access to free or reduced-cost meals. We often see more families using our pantry over the summer to get extra food.

When you give by May 31st, your gift will help ensure no child goes hungry. Every dollar you give provides healthy food like meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, rice, and milk.

I know you believe every person deserves respect. And today, you have the power to ease someone’s suffering.

Please donate what you can today. Help make sure no one in Dane County goes hungry this summer.

 

Julie Bennett

CEO & Executive Director

Woman stands next to a shelf of food in a pantry

 

PS. Rush your gift by May 31st to feed families this summer. Your kindness will bring comfort and hope to neighbors when they need it most.

Dane County Food Pantries Launch Collaborative Bulk Purchasing Effort with 20-Ton Beef Delivery

Six major pantries partner with Second Harvest and local foundation to meet rising food insecurity through innovative cost-saving strategy

 

MADISON, Wis. — April 14, 2026 — Six of the largest food pantries in Dane County—The River Food Pantry, Badger Prairie Needs Network, Goodman Community Center, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Sunshine Place and WayForward Resources—will gather at Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin for an exciting delivery on Wednesday, April 15 at 8 am. Media are invited to arrive at 7:45 am.

This marks the launch of a new bulk order process, representing a new and creative approach to working together to meet growing community needs. This initial shipment of 20 tons of beef, ordered through Second Harvest, will be distributed across the six pantries and made available to neighbors experiencing food insecurity throughout Dane County.

“This collaboration represents what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared purpose,” said Rhonda Adams, Executive Director of The River. “By pooling our resources and thinking differently, we can stretch every dollar further and ensure more families have access to the nutritious food they need.”

Local food pantries are facing sustained, unprecedented demand. Many are now serving two to four times as many households as just a few years ago. This increase is driven by several factors, including population growth, rising food costs, and, most significantly, the sharp increase in housing expenses. As more families struggle to keep up with basic needs, food pantries are playing an increasingly critical role in filling the gap. Recent and anticipated reductions in federal support, including SNAP and Medicaid, are expected to place even greater pressure on both families and the emergency food system.

At the same time, traditional free food supply sources have not kept pace with this surge in demand. As a result, pantries are relying more heavily on purchased food to keep shelves stocked. This challenge brought these pantries together to explore whether buying in bulk could reduce costs and increase the total amount of food available to the community.

As the group of pantries developed this approach, the Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation stepped forward with a generous investment to support this pilot effort. Wednesday’s delivery is made possible through their commitment to innovative solutions to significant community issues.

“The Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation is excited to support the collective as they take a coordinated approach to meeting community needs,” said Abby Schulz, Community Investment Administrator at the Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation. “We believe in giving nonprofits the space to try new approaches and build on what works, and hope efforts like this encourage others to lean in and support creative solutions across our community.”

Over the coming months, the group of six food pantries, in partnership with Second Harvest, will continue to pilot and refine this collaboration. The partners look forward to identifying meaningful ways for the community to support and strengthen this work in the future. In the meantime, they encourage continued support for the individual needs of participating pantries, including expanded space and financial resources to meet increased demand.

Desean moved to Madison with her two young boys over ten years ago. With courage and strength, she established a new life for her family. Unwavering support from St. Vincent de Paul — Madison employees and volunteers helped her along the way.

Desean’s journey began with a stay in a local shelter, before transitioning to SVdP Madison’s St. Elizabeth Ann Seton House. With a safe place to live, Desean received support to begin healing from her past, connect with health services for her family, and help her boys get on the road to school success.

“St. Vinny’s was amazing to us because when we got here, we never had a place where we could go and get all the resources and all the things that we needed,” Desean said.

The family shopped at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and redeemed clothing vouchers to cope with Wisconsin’s weather extremes. She fondly remembers their first Christmas in Seton House.

“I’ll never forget it: they gave us candy canes and hot chocolate, and they gave the kids toys,” Desean remembers. “That meant so much to me because, at the time, we didn’t have anything. But for them to give help to my kids by giving them a toy and making the dream of Santa live on meant so much to me as a parent.”

———————————————————————————

Give Food to Neighbors In Need

Donate Now

———————————————————————————

Staff at Seton House helped Desean navigate to her own apartment. But the family had absolutely nothing.

“One of the young ladies (a conference home visitor) actually came to my house and looked around to help,” Desean said. “Then, they gave us a broom and a mop. It was just like a group of people helping, and it was amazing. They don’t treat you like you’re a poverty-stricken person. They don’t come in boastful. They’re warm and welcoming, and they do their best to make you feel like you’re part of the community, which is very important.”

Desean turned her apartment into a home with help from the conference home visitors and furniture vouchers to shop at Dig & Save Outlet Store.

“It was a miracle for us when they said we could get a table, chairs, and silverware from Dig and Save,” Desean recalls. “It was everything to us. They had someone who could help us get it to the house. All those things that you think are non-important are very important. What good are things if you can’t get them to your house? What good is having an apartment if you don’t have a table, a chair, or a fork? They stepped up and said, “Hey, we understand.”

After her boys grew older, Desean’s heart led her to become a foster parent. Today, she is parenting six foster children under the age of 7. She continues to visit the food pantry from time to time to get diapers, wipes, and fresh produce.

“I found we could afford a 15-passenger van, so we’re all in the car,” Desean said while laughing. “We will go together, and they’ll slide the food into the car for us. They know us when we pull up, and then when we get home, I bring out the bags and let the kids help me bring it in.“

The service and compassion of SVdP Madison supporters, members, volunteers, and staff, paired with Deasean’s resilience, have made an important and lasting difference in her life and her children’s lives.

“Without St. Vinny’s, I don’t know that I could do what I do,” Desean said. “It takes a village to raise children, and St. Vinny’s has been a part of that village for me.”

 

*Representational photo

Above: Matthew Indra, Social Services Intern

 

Families who’ve just found permanent housing after being homeless face several obstacles. One way you’re helping these families stabilize is through the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program. Program director Katy Polich and Social Work Intern Matthew Indra are your hands and feet, providing support to these fragile families. A first-year Master of Social Work student at UW-Madison, Matthew has over a decade of nursing experience and aims to become a therapist. He’s interning with SVdP Madison to gain experience as a community social worker.

1. Why did you pursue nursing and social work?

I really like working with and taking care of people, and I was always interested in science. I found nursing, and worked in the emergency room while I was finishing up my degree. Then I developed a really great skill and love for working one-on-one with patients. Realizing that many people are struggling mentally and physically. I started learning more about psychotherapy, mental health, psychology, and philosophy, and the more I got into it, the more I realized I wanted to switch into psychotherapy. But I chose social work to pursue a therapy degree because I really love the social work values of human dignity, service, and self-determination. The field has a great holistic view of an individual. We look at systemic factors in people’s lives that contribute to the issues they face.

 

————————————————————————————————————

Help Prevent Family Homelessness

Donate Now

————————————————————————————————————

 

2. What have you enjoyed most as an intern?

Over the last few months, I’ve learned how we serve clients in the Seton Program, and that’s been my area of focus. It’s a really great internship because it’s extremely flexible, and Katy allows that, which I greatly appreciate. We do many home visits for single adults with kids within the program. It’s a really great experience to come into clients’ homes, get to know them, understand their goals, and identify the negative events that are impacting their well-being. We try to navigate those waters as best we can together as a team.

3. What are some obstacles people are facing?

Clients are struggling with different things, and a lot of them are newly housed, so I think the main goal is to make sure we do everything we can to support people’s housing. Making sure that everything they need is addressed. Transportation is always a huge issue because if a person has a job but can’t get to work because of transportation issues, that’s a huge barrier to their success, their goals, staying housed, and moving forward in their career.

4. What should people know about the social services SVdP Madison provides?

I think we have a huge impact on people’s lives. People need as much support as possible. Resources and support systems are breaking down. People need our services more than ever; whether it’s mental health services or transportation, or helping people afford their rent or food, whatever that looks like. And I think that we provide all of that and more because we’re also providing that human connection. We care, and it’s not hierarchical. It’s a very “We’re in this together,” kind of attitude. We don’t go into these homes acting like we know what’s best for our clients. Our clients know what’s best for them. And our goal is to meet them at their level and get them where they want to go.

I think St. Vinny’s is very special because of the people who work here. Everybody is willing to help, and I think the people we serve are seen as human beings first, deserving of care. It’s important to see those we serve as human beings, and not as somebody who needs to be fixed. They just need our service. I know people can feel it when they’re looked down upon. It’s very tangible. Most people here don’t have that perspective. We come from a place of respecting our clients and their dignity.