MADISON, Wis.— Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry said it’s easier to distribute nutritious meals to students this summer, and it’s all thanks to an anonymous donor.

Earlier this summer, the food pantry received a new refrigerated truck. The donation is worth thousands of dollars, and is now an integral part of bringing food to communities in need.

“This van is a wonderful tool for us, as a food pantry, to be able to reach people that get to us,” said Mark Thomson, president of Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry.

The Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry is 100% volunteer-run.

After taking a two-year hiatus from volunteering because of COVID-19, Bob Holling said he is happy to be back. While he said he’s volunteered there for a long time, things look a little different now: He’s in the driver’s seat of the new van.

“It’s good to be back helping,” he said.

“We have three stops today. We are making sure that kids that aren’t in summer school still have a chance for nutritious food during the day and that’s what this is about,” he added. 

And even though Holling said it’s easy to exhaust 75 meals in one trip, Thomson noted the food pantry hasn’t been impacted by the high gas prices. More likely than not, it’s because most of the work he and his volunteers do, is local, according to Thomson.

Thomson said he knows many in his local community haven’t been as lucky; the high gas prices have taken a hit to many’s finances.

“We hope our van and our food pantry can help with this, because if we can provide food that allows them to use some of the money they have earned for other expenses, that’s the way we are all going to get through this,” Thomson said.