Local and Support Resources

Sun Prairie Area School District Contact Info

Click HERE for Sun Prairie Student Services Staff: School Counselors, Social Workers, & Psychologists. 

Staff answer contacts during school days/hours. If this is a Crisis, call 911 or see the crisis/emergency numbers. 

Food Resources in Sun Prairie 

• Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry - 608-478-0510

People can use the Pantry every other week. Neighbors struggling with food insecurity can visit the food pantry once every 14 days for healthy food options and weekly kid's boxes. The pantry also offers personal care items. 

Website: https://sunprairiefoodpantry.com/services/

18 Rickel Road, Sun Prairie 

Hours:

• Monday/Wednesday/Friday  12:00pm - 3:30pm
• Tuesday/Thursday  5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Saturday  9:00am - 11:00am

FREE Weekend Wellness Packs for Kids

• To ensure no child goes hungry over the weekend
• Contains easily prepared, kid friendly, nutritious food, including fresh milk
• Available at the Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry (18 Rickel Rd): 
  • Thursdays 5-7 PM
  • Fridays 12-3:30 PM
  • Saturdays 9-11 AM
• No sign up or registration is necessary

McKenzie Family Boys & Girls Club
232 Windsor Street, Sun Prairie

• Family Meals to Go
  Family Meals consist of a premade meal for a family of 5, a produce box, and a cooler box with meats, cheeses, and yogurts.  Available for anyone in the community from 3:00-5:30 pm with registration! 
  
  Register ONCE at https://www.classy.org/event/family-meals-to-go-mckenzie-family-boys-and-girls-club/e316731 then receive a WEEKLY form to reserve your meal for the following week. Pick up is a drive-through in the parking lot of the club.

Sunshine Supper
1632 W. Main St, Sun Prairie
Email:  sunshinesupper@gmail.com

• Drive Through Meal Program
  Available for anyone on Mondays   5:00pm - 6:00pm
  Enter the parking lot off Hart Road (behind the building). 
  Meals are brought to your car. Walk-up service available.

Food Pantries

Dane County Food Pantry Network

Sun Prairie Sunshine Place

DeForest Food Pantry

The River Food Pantry - Madison

Waunakee Food Pantry

Financial Information

For financial assistance for housing please view the housing resources. 

Unemployment Info

• Helpful videos:
  • How to Apply for Unemployment
  • How to File a Weekly Claim (SPANISH)
  • How to Create a Username and Password (SPANISH)
• UI claimants will be required to make four work search contacts each week they claim benefits. The first time you will be required to report your work search efforts is when you file your claim. For more information see https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/ui/worksearch.
• For more information call the WI State Hotline at 414-435-7069 or Toll-free: 844-910-3661
• Other programs: 
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is a temporary program that provides up to 53 additional weeks of payments to individuals who have exhausted their regular UI benefits.
    • This program ends on Sep. 4, 2021. 

Rays of Hope (Sunshine Place) 

• Sunshine Place Rays of Hope – Emergency Assistance Program aids community members who have experienced a sudden and temporary loss of income. The program focuses on prevent eviction and utility disconnection.
• Guidelines and requirements to qualify for assistance:
  • Client income must fall within 200% of the federal poverty level in order to be eligible for assistance.
  • If a household owes more than the amount the program can assist with, there must be a plan in place to pay the
    remaining balance.
  • Client must have a plan to make future rent or utility payments.
  • The Rays of Hope program verifies payment plans/arrangements with the third party before releasing funds.
  • The program assists with rent or utility payments once every 12 months per participant.
• English speakers call 608-977-2592
• Spanish speakers call 608-640-7411

Employment Assistance at Sun Prairie Library (Ends 3/31/22)

Walk-in hours every Tuesday 9 AM - 5 PM. Call 608-301-6612 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

• Spanish-speaking assistance is available by appointment.
• For Dane County residents that are at 80% of the median income or lower.
• Help with job searches. 
• A technology lending library of laptops, hotspots, or phones for searching at home if you do not have access to a computer or phone.
• Access and assistance to get to and pay for adult education and certification courses that will increase your earning potential.
• Help to remove barriers to employment like transportation, childcare or any other practical issues that may impede a person’s ability to sustain employment that can pay your household’s bills.
• Practice interviews and resume assistance.
• Financial management and budgeting classes.
• One-on-one coaching during drop-in hours and some free group online and (as current restrictions allow) in-person classes.

Managing Your Personal Finances

• Financial Resources to Help Get Through COVID-19
• UW Extension Tax Assistance Website has guidance about filing taxes. 
• 2021 Tax Credits: Families with low to moderate income are eligible to receive tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Find free tax filing assistance.