If you’ve enjoyed an afternoon on Willy Street, you’ve likely passed by Luke House. Their mission is simple: to feed the hungry no questions asked. If you haven’t heard of Luke House, it is because they go about their mission work quietly, serving free meals nine times a week, year-round, rain or shine. At each meal Luke House serves between 60 and 120 guests. All guests and volunteers are treated with dignity and respect, a major value of the Luke House. This organization has been feeding Madison’s hungry since 1986. Guests show up and are fed, no questions asked. The facility is set up like a restaurant with volunteers serving a healthy meal and beverages to guests.

The atmosphere is very pleasant, and the guests have a chance to socialize.

One way you can save money in the near year is to choose thrifting and buying secondhand over buying new. Dane County is home to dozens of thrift stores with an amazing variety of clothing and household goods, and with many high-quality and unique finds. But the truth is there are a whole host of reasons to buy secondhand. Here are a few more of them: 

1) Environmental sustainability: Buying secondhand reduces waste that would otherwise end up in the landfill. 

2) Local support: Thrifting supports locally-owned businesses and non-profits, which contribute to the overall health of our community. 

3) A sense of adventure: You never know what you might find when you go thrifting. Each time you thrift, it's like going on your own mini treasure

Written by Sarah Linn, Development & Marketing Special Projects Coordinator at DCHS

Animal shelters play a crucial role in our community. When you think of Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), you probably think of dog and cat adoptions first. And rightly so. In 2023, DCHS found new homes for 1,241 dogs and 1,728 cats. But that’s just one of the ways DCHS serves the animals at the shelter and in our community. Additionally, DCHS provides care for thousands of native wild animals who are injured, sick, or orphaned, rehabilitating them with the goal of releasing them back to their habitats. DCHS also provides humane education programs for learners of all ages, teaching community members about everything from animal care to empathy. Their Pets for

Written by Amber Kolner, Communications and Stewardship Manager of Madison Area Community Land Trust

Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities for low-income families in Dane County. MACLT is Dane County's only non-profit focused on permanently affordable homeownership, and part of a movement of over 300 community land trusts across North America. 

Through their innovative land trust model, MACLT helps individuals and families purchase homes at below-market rates, while preserving long-term affordability of the homes in the land trust. MACLT’s resale formula ensures that these homes remain affordable for future generations, which helps to

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County (BBBS) is all about helping kids and teens reach their full potential through meaningful, one-on-one mentoring. For over 50 years, BBBS has been connecting young people with mentors who are there to offer support, guidance, and a listening ear. These relationships are personal and flexible, tailored to fit the needs of each kid. The result? A boost in confidence, better grades, and a brighter outlook on life. The bonds formed between Bigs and Littles often last a lifetime, making a real difference for everyone involved.

What makes BBBS work so well is the incredible volunteers who step up to be Bigs. These mentors come from all walks of life, but they all share the same passion for making a positive impact.

(Thanks to Laura Kocum from ABC of Wisconsin for this contribution to our blog.)

This spring, an apprentice named Melody graduated from a sheet metal apprenticeship. For Melody, this is a second career. She started as a chef, but after years of long hours, lagging wages, and instability during the pandemic, she decided it was time for a change. After researching her options, she chose a sheet metal apprenticeship.  “Everyone needs heat and air. These needs aren’t going anywhere. I can do anything with the skilled trades,” she exclaimed.

Melody wishes she had known about apprenticeships sooner and had begun her program right out of high school. She sees that her apprenticeship has created a career path that will pay well, provide stability, and give

Food insecurity in Dane County is real. Nearly 13% of kids in Dane County were food insecure in 2022, up from 7.5% in 2021. Those most affected are children, seniors, the disabled, and people of color. In over 70% of food insecure households, at least one adult is working. Many have two jobs.

Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN) in Verona – one of the area’s largest food pantries -- is working hard to address this meal gap. The pantry expects to serve 90,000 individuals this year, six times more than pre-pandemic. The increase in visits can be attributed to rising housing costs, food inflation and population growth. On a busy Thursday, BPNN will serve 200 families. 

In operation since 1986, BPNN is 100% volunteer led and operated, meaning

Last month we donated $500 to Rooted, a local nonprofit that is helping to create healthy, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods. This year we've also made contributions of $500 or more to Defending Black Girlhood, Own It, SAIL, the Foundation for Dane County Parks, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Red Sneakers for Oakley. 

This month, we're excited to be sharing the good work of the Badger Prairie Needs Network. Stay tuned for more information about this Verona-based nonprofit, coming real soon. 

We're grateful for all of you who continue to trust us with all of your buying and selling needs. Because of you, we’re able to shine a light on and support local nonprofits. Thank you. 

While many of us enjoy backyard gardening, not everyone has access to land to grow their own gardens and there are barriers to successful community-based gardening efforts. Rooted, a local nonprofit based in Madison, is helping to create “healthy, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods'' that embrace the positive impact of sharing fresh, quality food through community gardening. Rooted’s Community Gardens Network is just one of the organization’s programming efforts focused on food, land, and learning.

The Community Gardens Network is a partnership between Rooted, UW Madison Extension Dane County, and the City of Madison that connects people with the land, education, and resources to create and sustain community gardens. There are 72 gardens in the

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