By Becca Bolton
The River Food Pantry
Sharon Mohr has broken another record for the most volunteer hours at The River Food Pantry. Since 2013, Sharon has devoted over 15,000 hours to serving the Northside and Dane County as a whole.
On average Sharon has spent 30–40 hours a week sorting thousands of pounds of donated items each year. Her efforts have not only helped streamline operations, but she has made everyone’s lives easier, including staff, volunteers and clients.
When Sharon began, The River’s clothing area lacked organization. Sharon took it upon herself to come in five days a week to organize the mixed donations. With Sharon’s management, clothing was hung neatly on hangers and grouped according to size and gender. Everything else was labeled and had a designated place.
The River’s clothing area closed due to the pandemic, but Sharon has continued to help meet the increased need for food. From sorting containers of food and supplies to condensing bulk donations into smaller packages, she is always willing to tackle the toughest and least popular tasks. Sharon has truly been a lifesaver for over 3,000 people who depend on The River every week. Thanks to Sharon’s orderly system, clients can access what they need from the pantry more quickly and easily.
In recognition of her volunteer service at The River, Sharon received the Senior Service Award from the Rotary Club of Madison in 2019 and a North Star Award in 2021. Through hard work and compassion, Sharon has nourished thousands of food-insecure children, seniors, veterans and families throughout our community.
