President's Message

Bob Kasieta, Board President

I hope you are enjoying the hot summer weather. Remember on the sultriest days how you longed for the warmth of the summer sun when January winds blew. This month I’d like to highlight how BPNN is becoming a focal point for community activity.

The rest of this newsletter reports on BPNN interacting with government and private organizations to raise funds, solve problems, and work cooperatively in many ways. This is one secret to BPNN’s great success. We have always been able to build on the work of other organizations with shared missions. Have you noticed how many people you meet who might not be directly involved in BPNN still know about us? That’s a sign that BPNN is integrating with many community organizations, leveraging the opportunity to have greater reach. So, if someone asks you how BPNN is able to do all it does, please remember to mention the great good will of so many organizations that join with us to do the work we cherish.

The other great secret to BPNN’s success? You, of course. In a thousand ways your volunteer service is building a force for good in this community that we’ve not seen before. “Thank you” is too small an expression to acknowledge what you do. Yet, thanks is very much in order. Our volunteers, including those in leadership who also volunteer, make BPNN nothing short of amazing. We’re on track to serve more than 85,000 guests in the food pantry this year. With inflation, the end of Covid assistance, and reductions in federal SNAP benefits, we will be challenged to do even more in the future. But cooperating with other organizations that share our goals, and fueled by the passion of more than 1,100 volunteers, we will meet the challenge. So, thank you for all you have done and all you will yet do to help our neighbors.

Bob

New Look for BPNN Truck

The refrigerated box truck is sporting a new branded look with the BPNN logo thanks to the generosity of longtime supporter Tier1Nutritionals in partnership with James W. Smith Printing. Retail recovery provides nearly 30% of our food inventory and this welcome addition to the fleet means volunteers can easily transfer pallets to the dock without rebuilding them. Without the new truck, we would not be able to recover food from Costco, Hy-Vee, Festival Foods, and other large retailers.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi stopped by on a recent busy Thursday to meet volunteers and take a look at the new truck wrap. Funding to purchase the truck was provided through the Dane County emergency food pantry assistance grant. We are grateful for the County's support in helping area food pantries meet the increase in food insecurity.

Summer’s Bounty of Produce

We strive to provide a variety of fresh produce to our guests, and summer is the peak time for garden fresh fruits and vegetables! Produce Prep volunteers are busy accepting deliveries, checking for quality, and preparing produce for display. We can always use extra hands to process this extra bounty of produce for distribution. Check the SignUp calendar for open Produce Prep shifts. If working in produce is new to you, sign up as a Produce Prep Assistant and an experienced volunteer will show you the ropes.

If you are a home gardener and find yourself with a surplus, consider sharing it with BPNN. Produce can be dropped off at the Volunteer Back Entrance during pantry hours.

Evjue Foundation Grant Helps Fight Hunger

The Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of The Capital Times, awarded $15,000 to BPNN to help fund food pantry programs. We are honored to be among the dozens of charitable, cultural, and educational programs in the Dane County Area to receive their support.

Help BPNN Get Top Rating

If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community. Raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us on the GreatNonprofits website. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes.

Purchase Tickets for Cooking Class with

Freeman Brothers BBQ

Join local pitmasters Aubrey and Peter Freeman of Freeman Brothers BBQ as they demonstrate how to prepare ribs, chicken, and brisket for smoking at home. They'll also teach you how to make their signature apple-cabbage coleslaw, award-winning baked beans, and buns for the ultimate summer cookout or fall tailgate! You'll learn about different smokers, sample all of the items prepared in class, stay hydrated with beers (and other beverages), and be entered to win a prepared brisket to smoke at home ($100 value).

Choose either Saturday, July 29 or Sunday, July 30. Both events are from 11-4pm. Tickets are expected to sell out for this month's BBQ Clinic fundraising event. Click here to rder them online by July 25 or call 608-848-2499.

Proceeds from this fundraising event benefit BPNN programs.

BPNN Hosts Latino Academy Career Fair

Career fairs are one way BPNN works to fulfill its mission to fight the root causes of hunger. Last month, the Kasieta Center proudly hosted the Latino Academy of Workforce Development’s annual career fair. It was a packed house with 30 employers providing 130 job seekers an opportunity to learn about and apply for open positions. It was a family friendly event with activities to keep the kids busy, a food truck, and La Movida Madison radio station to provide entertainment. Participating employers included City of Madison, Dane County, UW-Health, the QTI Group, Pepsi Co, MG&E, Dave Jones Plumbing, NCG Hospitality, EPIC Systems, several local manufacturers among others.

Waiting Room Gets New Art

We have new artwork in the waiting room. Monica Cliff, owner of Inventiva Works, painted a multipurpose 4x6 foot chalkboard in the waiting room to provide a space to highlight programs and onsite activities. In addition, Monica painted several large canvases on the wall above the kid’s toys and books. The paintings are based on the contemporary landscape of the local area from spring through winter. The work was supported by a Dane Arts grant.

New in the Kasieta Center this month is an installation featuring the work of several local artists from the South-Central Chapter of Wisconsin Visual Artists. Featured artists include C.W. Stolle, Jan Richardson, Kathleen D'Angelo, Jennifer Angelo, Varla Bishop, Katherine Ford and Susan Sewell. They will be available to view for the next several months and some pieces are available to purchase.

Volunteer in the Kasieta Center

Use of the Kasieta Center is increasing with regular events such as the Community Meal, a variety of classes, fundraisers, and the Winter Farmer’s Market. We are also fielding more requests for business meetings and private events. We are looking for a few volunteers to be part of a team to provide event support in two specific areas:

Room set up for events such as arranging tables and chairs.
Meet with prospective renters about their needs and basic event coordination. This would be a fun opportunity for someone with an event planning background.

Prior to volunteering for either role, you will get an overview of the room features, set-up options, location of room controls and furnishings. The time commitment is flexible and varies with the events. Many of the activities can take place around your schedule. If you would like to learn more about helping in the Kasieta Center, be on a call list of volunteers, and have a few hours of time to give each month, email Karen at kdettinger@bpnn.org.

Community Meal Summer Schedule

Saturdays from 11:30am-12:45pm on the following dates:

July 15, August 5 & August 19

All welcome, no registration required!

Volunteer Orientation

Spots are filling fast! Several openings still available for the following session:

Saturday, Jul 29 from 9-10:30am

BBQ Clinic with Freeman Brothers BBQ

Saturday, July 29 or Sunday, July 30 from 11-4pm

All proceeds from this fundraising event benefit BPNN programs. Order tickets online by June 25 or call 608-848-2499.

Canned meat & fish

White rice

Canned protein beans such black, pinto, & kidney

Canned fruit

Cereal

Cooking oil

Menstrual pads

Bar soap

Baby Wipes

Bring donations to the Volunteer Entrance during pantry hours.

Donations of personal care items such as baby wipes, dental care, bar soap and feminine hygiene products can be directly shipped to us through our Amazon Wish List.

FOOD PANTRY HOURS

Tuesday: 10a-Noon • Wednesday: 6-8p • Thursday: 10a-6:30p

Friday: 10a-Noon • Saturday: 10a-12:30p

Badger Prairie Needs Network

1200 E. Verona Avenue,

Verona, WI 53593

(608) 848-2499