Gathering New Books for Kids this Holiday Season as Madison Reading Project Launches Annual Community Book Drive

DANE COUNTY – For the sixth year in a row, Madison Reading Project is launching its annual Community Book Drive, promising to fill the homes of area children with new books this holiday season. 

The goal: Raise $50,000 and acquire 2,000 brand new books before winter break for our year-end giving events and literacy programming in 2026.

Madison Reading Project staff and volunteers will place book collection bins at public locations such as shopping malls, and have 35 different community organizations, bookstores, corporate groups, and sponsors already hosting individual new book drives to help reach the goal. Anyone can sign up to run a Peers for Pages fundraiser or bookraiser, shop our online book wishlist, or participate at local bookstores.

Financial donations can be made online by clicking on our website’s Community Book Drive tab or by mailing us a physical check.

“We believe it is important for children to have access to new books that reflect their unique identities as well as open their eyes to others’ lived experiences,” says Rowan Childs, co-executive director/founder. “By supporting our Community Book Drive, you will help get thousands of new, high-quality books to kids, many of whom have few books in their homes.”

Madison Reading Project is again partnering with the Empty Stocking Club, Madison School and Community Recreation (MSCR), the Monona and Waunakee public libraries, and other community programs to expand its reach. 

“We’re confident we will reach our donation goals with the community’s help,” Childs adds. “Everyone deserves that new book feeling, especially children. Books in the home are so  important to a child’s development.”

Anyone can help by donating funds or by buying books from local bookstores, such as Lake City Books, Mystery To Me, Books 4 School, Ink & Ivy, Garden Wall Bookshop, Ink Cap Books, and A Room of One’s Own. The booklists make it easy to select a new book at any price point. 

Visit madisonreadingproject.com to get involved. A business, club, friend group, or neighborhood can also organize an in-person book-raiser. 

“We want to encourage the amazing people in our community to not only help us collect books bought locally, but also support local businesses when they visit our bins,” says Deirdre Steinmetz, co-executive director. “To make it convenient, you can purchase from our wishlist via our website or through local bookstores.”

“Together, we’ll get new books that children and families want,” Steinmetz adds. “Everyone deserves to experience the new book feeling, especially our community’s youngest readers.” 

Books may be donated online or at several of our bookseller partners across Dane County or at our Book Center, 1337 Greenway Cross, in Madison. Donations of brand-new books for children ages 0-18 are cheerfully accepted through the end of the year.

Visit Madison Reading Project’s website for more on the book drive, book suggestions, book-giving programs, or to make a monetary contribution:  madisonreadingproject.com/communitybookdrive

Madison Reading Project’s book drive works with the Wisconsin State Journal’s annual Empty Stocking Club holiday toy distribution event. Open to all families regardless of financial situation, every child receives a new book and a brand-new, high-quality toy at the giving event. 

The drive ends Dec.10 to ensure books get to kids on time before schools close. The fundraiser is open until the end of the year. 

Madison Reading Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to connect the community with free books and literacy enrichment programs that ignite a love for reading. 

FITCHBURG HOLIDAY LIGHTS TOUR & JUBILEE RETURNS FOR 2025

The City of Fitchburg and the Fitchburg Chamber Visitor + Business Bureau are excited to announce the return of the Fitchburg Holiday Lights Tour December 12-14, 2025. The Fitchburg Holiday Lights Tour is a city-wide holiday lights spectacular event. Residences and businesses spread holiday cheer with their elaborate holiday light displays. Spectators can use the online map to tour all the participating addresses and can vote for their favorites! Businesses will also be participating in the Holiday Jubilee, hosting holiday activities and running holiday sales all weekend long. 

The weekend kicks off with Get Festive at Agora on December 12th from 5:00pm-8:00pm. A holiday celebration that features family friendly activities such as carriage rides, cookie decorating, fire pits & s’mores, and so much more. Bundle up and shop local vendors in the Agora Courtyard and try some craft brews and holiday eats and treats. More details can be found at Get Festive at Agora FB page. 

“So many people have reached out to share what this event means to them. They have holiday memories as a child of being piled into the station wagon with their siblings to drive around and view the holiday lights. They’re excited to be able to share this tradition with their own families. Residents enjoy decorating their homes together in the spirit of the season to bring joy to others. There are so many spectacular holiday displays throughout the city. It truly is magical!”, said Lisa Sanford, Executive Assistant at the City of Fitchburg. 

Residents and businesses that would like to participate in the Holiday Lights Tour by creating their own light display should submit their Fitchburg address via the Holiday Lights Tour Form . The deadline for submission is Sunday, December 7th. Your display will be included on the Google map of locations and the voting ballot. Encourage your neighbors to participate and be voted the “Best Street” for year-round bragging rights! 

In addition to the kickoff event, Get Festive at Agora, some additional Jubilee activities throughout the weekend include:

• Matt Winzenried Real Estate – Gift Wrapping 
• Holiday fun at Saint Charles Station 
• Delta Beer Lab – Two days of Holiday Fun 
• Live Music at the Thirsty Goat 

The City of Fitchburg will be showcasing decorated vehicles at Fire Station 1, 5791 Lacy Road, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm on Saturday, December 13th. See a fire truck, ambulance, police car and public works vehicles decorated as part of the Holiday Lights Tour. Santa will be there with special treats! 

More details about participating businesses and holiday activities will be added closer to the event. The map of the Holiday Lights Tour will be available in the afternoon on December 10th and the voting form will be available on December 12th, 2025. All of the Holiday Jubilee information, a map of the 2025 Holiday Lights Tour and links to the voting form will be online at www.visitfitchburg.com and on the Holiday Lights Tour Facebook Page. 

About The City of Fitchburg 

The City of Fitchburg is a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, located in Dane County. With a population of approximately 30,000 residents, Fitchburg is one of the fastest growing cities in Wisconsin with a vibrant business community and was named one of the “Best Places to Live for Families” by Fortune Well Magazine in 2023. 

About The Fitchburg Chamber Visitor + Business Bureau

The Fitchburg Chamber Visitor + Business Bureau provides leadership for the advancement of our city’s economic vitality and quality of life for our businesses, residents, and visitors. To this end we provide programs and services that will expand and mature investments, job opportunities, support business networks and build tourism and community assets. 

Student Talent Set to Take Center Stage in MMSD High School Fall Productions

MADISON, Wis.—Over the coming weeks, student-performers across the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) will be stepping into the spotlight as all four comprehensive high schools present their annual fall theatrical productions.

Each school’s cast and crew have spent months preparing their shows, which range from classic works of Greek tragedy to contemporary adaptations and timeless comedies.

• Robert M. La Follette High School (702 Pflaum Rd.) will present “Antigone” by Sophocles (translated by Anne Carson), a Greek tragedy that explores loyalty, justice and moral conviction as a young woman defies authority to honor her family. Shows run from Friday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 9; tickets are available at lafollette.ludus.com.
  
• Vel Phillips Memorial High School (201 S. Gammon Rd.) will stage “Out of the Frying Pan” by Francis Swann, a fast-paced comedy about six young actors sharing an apartment in New York City and the chaos that follows when their landlord discovers their plans to stage a play in the living room. Shows are Friday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Nov. 15; tickets are available at memorial.ludus.com.
  
• West High School (30 Ash St.) will perform “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare, which follows a spirited heroine who flees to the Forest of Arden, where love, disguise and wit intertwine. Shows are Friday, Nov. 14; Saturday, Nov. 15; Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22. Tickets are available at gofan.co/app/school/WI19194?activity=Performing%20Arts.
  
• East High School (2222 E. Washington Ave.) will put on “The Odyssey” by Homer (adapted by Mary Zimmerman), the epic story of Odysseus’s perilous journey home through mythic adventures and themes of perseverance and identity. Shows run from Thursday, Dec. 11 through Saturday, Dec. 13; tickets are available at madisoneast.ludus.com.

Research shows that students who participate in the arts often demonstrate stronger academic performance, higher attendance rates and increased engagement in school. Studies of large cohorts of middle- and high-school students found that those with high arts involvement outperformed their peers on multiple academic and attitude measures. 

“Theatre helps students collaborate, solve problems, be creative , develop resilience and adaptability and build confidence and communication skills,” said Dan Davidson, MMSD’s director of fine arts. “Our students and directors put in an incredible amount of effort, and it’s really inspiring to see.”

Davidson said the fall plays also highlight the essential role of arts education in developing well-rounded students. “The arts connect us to one another,” he said. “When our students tell stories on stage, they help us see and understand the world in new ways.”

All performances will be held in each school’s auditorium, several of which were renovated as part of the 2020 facilities referendum. Community members are encouraged to attend and experience the creativity, collaboration and dedication of MMSD’s student-artists.

For a full listing of arts-related programming happening across the district, please visit the Arts Events and Information page of the MMSD website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

MMSD Takes Steps to Modernize Math Instruction

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is taking important steps to update its math curriculum and ensure all students receive a consistent, high-quality education in the subject.

District leaders and teachers have developed new math course pathways for four-year-old kindergarten (4K) through grade 12, and are set to begin selecting updated instructional materials for grades kindergarten through eight. The current materials have been in use for more than a decade and no longer reflect the latest standards or best practices for teaching and learning.

“By the time new materials are adopted, our current resources will have been in use for 11 years, which is beyond the typical curricular shelf life of seven years,” said Quinn Marx, director of K–8 math and science. “We are looking for a resource that is structured to embed equitable math teaching practices, including discourse routines that promote equity of voice and … a sense of agency for all students.”

The updated course pathways will help create greater alignment across all schools and ensure that every student, regardless of the school they attend, has opportunities to take higher-level math courses.

To support this work, MMSD has opened a Request for Proposals (RFP 4155) to review and select new K–8 math resources. The process will identify resources that meet state standards, promote understanding and fluency, and support the needs of all learners, including multilingual students and students with disabilities.

“Mindset matters, and how we engage in implementing any new materials is going to be critical to student success,” said Becky Kundert, senior executive director of curriculum and instruction. “We’ve learned a lot from our recent adoption of biliteracy and literacy curriculum [and] we have unpacking protocols and an internalization process that we use across all content areas. For this, we’ll leverage some of the practices that our staff already know well.”

New math materials are expected to be introduced in middle schools for the 2026–27 school year and in elementary schools for 2027–28, following an extensive review and evaluation process.

“This is a long-term investment in the future of math learning in Madison,” said Cindy Green, assistant superintendent of strategy and innovation. “We’re building systems that support teachers, empower students and make high-level math accessible for everyone.”

The Math Task Force, composed of teachers and district leaders, plans to make a recommendation to the Board of Education in February, with a formal vote on the new curriculum later that month.

For more information regarding mathematics instruction in the district, please visit the MMSD website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Delayed SNAP Benefits Cause Significant Increases in Demand at Area Food Pantries

MADISON — Six of Dane County’s largest food pantries are already seeing the impacts of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) delays. SNAP, known as FoodShare in Wisconsin, provided benefits to nearly 65,000 people in Dane County in 2024. As America’s most extensive anti-hunger program, it gives out monthly government benefits to low-income households to help them purchase food. Even before SNAP benefits lapsed over the past weekend due to the federal government shutdown, many area food pantries began seeing increases as people turned to them to fill anticipated gaps. This comes on top of significant increases in demand that Dane County food pantries have already experienced over the last several years.

“The disruption to the SNAP program is already creating additional pressure as we enter our busiest time of year,” reports Rhonda Adams, Executive Director of The River Food Pantry. “The River provided nearly 500 grocery orders and over 900 take-home meals in a single day last week, even before benefits were delayed. That is our busiest day ever outside of a holiday week. We are bracing for a surge in need, both among current clients and families who have not been visiting a pantry. I spoke to people waiting for their groceries last week, and most worried about how they will replace the meals that FoodShare covered, even with the support available from local pantries.”

Other food pantries are also seeing significant increases in visitors. “Last Tuesday, we saw our highest number of customers ever in our food pantry,” said Goodman Community Center’s Director of Food Resources, Francesca Frisque. “This included a large number of new shoppers who had never visited our pantry before. The rest of the week continued to be high, and we anticipate more this week.”

Food pantries are bracing for hard weeks ahead. Yesterday in response to a federal judge’s order to release a contingency fund, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that this contingency fund would only cover $4.6 billion of November’s SNAP benefits, roughly half of what is typically distributed. No timeline was provided to when people would receive these benefits.

Despite these challenges, Dane County food pantries want to emphasize to community members impacted by the delay and partial payment of FoodShare benefits that they are prepared to do everything possible to ensure continued access to basic food. They are seeing firsthand the strain that the delay in benefits, along with the disruption and confusion from constantly changing information, is putting on families.

“People are worried. We’re hearing concern from both those who need help and those eager to offer it,” said Ann Maastricht, Executive Director of Sunshine Place. “Sunshine Place and our partner pantries across Dane County have food and support available, and together with community support, we are making sure everyone who needs help can get it.”

For now, food pantries are filling a critical gap. Although they can do this for a short time, food pantries can’t be the permanent solution. “Food pantries and SNAP are intended to work together to combat food insecurity,” said Chris Kane, Senior Director of Client Services at St. Vincent de Paul — Madison. “Food pantries cannot replace SNAP. According to Feeding America, for every one meal provided by food pantries, the SNAP program provides nine meals. That is too large a gap for the charitable sector to replace.”

Community members can give now to their local food pantry to make sure pantries continue to have food to meet the surge in demand. Even after the SNAP crisis ends, community support will still be important as we head into the holiday season. “Crisis or not, hunger doesn’t take a break,” said Marcia Kasieta, Business and Development Director at Badger Prairie Needs Network. “Even when SNAP funding begins to return, record-setting need will continue. And with more federal cuts on the horizon, even more vulnerable families will be affected. Dane County has one of the most organized and collaborative food pantry networks in the country — but we rely on the strength and generosity of our wider community to help lift our neighbors through tough times.”

Cash donations enable pantries to target their buying to the most-needed items and to purchase in bulk at lower prices than retail. Most pantries also accept donations of nonperishable food. Check your local food pantry’s website for more details about giving or to see information about volunteer needs they may have.

“WayForward Resources and other local pantries have already seen an incredible response from the community,” said Ellen Carlson, Executive Director of WayForward Resources. “Thank you. We appreciate the monetary and food donations, the offers to volunteer and the concern and support that have all come our way. It is essential. Please continue to partner with us during the delay and reduction in SNAP benefits–and into the future so that we can build a strong community together.”

About the Food Pantries:

About Badger Prairie Needs Network
Founded in 1986, Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN) is a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to end hunger and reduce poverty in Dane County. In addition to operating one of the region’s most collaborative food pantry and food recovery programs, BPNN offers a range of wrap-around community services including pro bono legal assistance, onsite social workers through Joining Forces for Families, a commercial kitchen, community meals, and job-training programs in partnership with the Latino Academy of Workforce Development. Demand for food assistance continues to reach historic levels. In 2025, BPNN is on pace to support more than 95,000 neighbors — nearly triple pre-pandemic levels. Learn more at bpnn.org.

About the Fritz Food Pantry at Goodman Community Center
Located on Madison’s east side, the Goodman Community Center strengthens lives and secures futures, through programs focusing on food security, older adults, children ages 3–19, and building community. The Fritz Food Pantry at the Goodman Community Center provides groceries for more than 350 households every week. We believe everyone should have access to a variety of healthy, fresh foods, regardless of their income level, and we’re proud to provide this valuable service to anyone in our community who needs it. The pantry is open three days a week and all are welcome. No pre-registration is required. Learn more at goodmancenter.org.

About The River Food Pantry
The River is South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry. Services include free groceries for pickup or delivery, to-go meals, online grocery orders, mobile meals, and after-hours food lockers. The River also recovers food and resources—that would otherwise go to waste—from local retailers. Since 2006, The River has grown to serve over 3,500 people every week in pursuit of its vision: a fully nourished community. Learn more at www.riverfoodpantry.org.

About St. Vincent de Paul — Madison
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison is a membership organization dedicated to helping our neighbors in need. They offer services such as food, prescription medicine, clothing, furniture, household goods, storage lockers and guidance to neighbors in need. Seven St. Vinny’s Thrift Stores across Dane County help fund these services and provide direct charity through a furniture, household goods and clothing voucher program. St. Vincent de Paul — Madison is currently accepting new volunteers during their “Volunteers Are Magic” drive with Magic98. Please visit https://svdpmadison.org/event/magic98-volunteer-drive/ to learn more.

About Sunshine Place
Located in Sun Prairie, Sunshine Place is a community resource serving Dane County and surrounding areas. The nonprofit provides a one-stop shop for support, offering its own programs focused on food, housing, and basic needs, alongside co-located partner agencies that provide additional wraparound services. The largest of Sunshine Place’s programs is the Sun Prairie Food Pantry, a full-choice pantry open six days per week and serving households across Dane County and beyond. The pantry also provides community-based food distribution to children in Sun Prairie and nearby communities through neighborhood and school partnerships. Learn more at https://sunshineplace.org.

About WayForward Resources
WayForward Resources focuses on creating food security and housing stability. Located in Middleton, their food pantry and clothing center are open five days a week to anyone in Dane County. WayForward’s housing stability programs provide case management, referrals, and financial assistance to community members living in the Middleton-Cross Plains School District and part of the west side of Madison. Learn more at wayforwardresources.org.