Celebrating 40 Years of Feeding the Community

This year, we celebrate 40 years of service—from our humble beginnings in a closet at Salem United Church of Christ to becoming one of the largest food pantries in the region. Since 1986, Badger Prairie Needs Network has provided food, dignity, and hope to thousands of neighbors across Dane County.

Join us in celebrating this monumental milestone with a recurring monthly donation of $40 (or add an extra zero!) and help us keep making a difference in the lives of your neighbors. Becoming a monthly donor provides the stability and security needed to sustain our mission as we continue to see growing demand.

MAKE A MONTHLY DONATION

“This year we celebrate our 40th year in operation, with renewed, clear-eyed vigor, knowing that what we do matters, that we must do it because it is the right thing to do, and that we gain something, too, by helping our neighbors.”

-Bob Kasieta, BPNN President

Our History

The Land

An early photo of the county property at 1200 E. Verona Avenue. The building in the photo was eventually replaced by a county medical facility, food distribution center and Badger Prairie Needs Network.
1986 - Humble Beginnings

Our story begins in a small closet at Salem United Church of Christ in Verona where member Debbie Bass was facilitating the church’s distribution of government cheese. Read the Verona Press story about how Badger Prairie Needs Network was born.
1994 - Verona Library

The City of Verona provides pantry space in the basement of the Verona Public Library on Franklin Street. Pantry guests can now make choices in a grocery store environment.
2015 - Move the Food Campaign

A capital campaign raises funds to move to our current location in a County-owned facility. The name changes to Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN) to be more inclusive for households in Fitchburg and south Madison.
2018 - The Packer Tailgate

A Green Bay Packers tailgate event raises money to build the Prairie Kitchen and Pantry Warehouse. The Kitchen-to-Table food recovery initiative is launched.
2020 - A Worldwide Pandemic

Demand for food assistance spikes by 72% overnight and BPNN expands service to all of Dane County. The Big Chill capital campaign raises funds to add more cooler space, loading dock, laundry room, and canopy for drive-up distribution shelter.
2022 - The Kasieta Center

Dane County COVID recovery funds and private donations back the addition of a community and event space. The center’s name was selected by BPNN’s board of directors in recognition of Robert (Bob) and Marcia Kasietas’ extensive contribution to growing and strengthening the organization.
2025 - The Last Build

The final addition to the building provides much needed warehouse capacity to better distribute 2 million pounds of food and serve 100,000 guests annually. New office and training center offer new opportunities for current and future programs.

Help us feed our community for the next 40 years. Our next chapter focuses on meeting growing demand while strengthening the lives of every neighbor we serve with wraparound services.

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Host a 40th Anniversary Food Drive

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