Sunshine Place is proving we can accomplish more when we meet our neighbors’ needs with dignity and collaboration. This Sun Prairie-based organization is where families and individuals can come for help with food, housing, and other essential support. Sunshine Place is a “resource hub” for basic needs, offering its nine innovative programs plus subsidized space for other agencies. They currently host staff from Centro Hispano, Joining Forces for Families, RISE – Early Childhood Initiative (ECI), Dane County Madison Public Health, and Tenant Resource Center saving their visitors time, transportation, and childcare resources to access multiple services in one-stop. 

The largest of Sunshine Place’s programs is their Sun Prairie Food Pantry, open 6 days a week and offering a “grocery store-like” shopping atmosphere that emphasizes respect and dignity. Historically high food prices (among other systemic challenges) have led to an exponential amount of families being served. For instance, in January 2022, the food pantry welcomed 320 families and in January 2024, 1,180 families. While the need is great, so is Sunshine Place’s passion for helping our community in realistic ways. Check out sunshineplace.org to learn more about Sunshine Place’s impact in eastern Dane County, and check out their weekly social media posts if you’re interested in what items the food pantry is currently in need of most.

(Graph courtesy of Sunshine Place)