Bikes for Kids Wisconsin launches new grocery delivery program

Bikes for Kids Wisconsin teams up with The River Food Pantry to pilot ‘Meals on 2 Wheels’ initiative.

This fall, Bikes for Kids Wisconsin piloted its new grocery delivery initiative, Meals on 2 Wheels. A collaboration with The River Food Pantry in Madison. Meals on 2 Wheels offers grocery delivery on bicycles from local food pantries to homebound individuals. The pilot program was tested with volunteer rider Pepe Barros.

Barros rode a cargo bike and trailer with 160 pounds of fresh and frozen food. According to Bikes for Kids Wisconsin, his test deliveries were easier via bicycle rather than by car due to the “nimble nature of bikes and lower cost.”

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Bikes for Kids Wisconsin has an ongoing fundraising campaign with a donation goal of $120,000 to launch the program in April 2026. They plan to have Meals on 2 Wheels operate from April 2026 to October 2026.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Bikes for Kids Wisconsin on this exciting new opportunity to give bikers a chance to do what they love while helping our neighbors in need put food on the table,” said Rhonda Adams, executive director of The River Food Pantry. “This collaborative initiative gives cyclists a meaningful way to combine their passion with purpose—helping to ensure that local households without transportation don’t go hungry as the need continues to rise in Dane County.”

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Meals on 2 Wheels will be powered by volunteers. Volunteer riders on e-bikes and e-cargo bikes with trailers will deliver 160-320 pounds of groceries on weekdays through the duration of the initiative. 

According to Bikes for Kids Wisconsin, the initiative is about more than just delivering food to those in need, but rather building “healthier and more connected communities.” Its overall mission is to promote and increase bicycle transportation to underserved communities through accessibility, low-cost repairs, and education.

“Using bicycles for the last mile delivery makes great sense,” Barros said. “It’s more efficient, more sustainable, more flexible, eliminates the need for gasoline, no need for parking, and we can unload the items right by the door. I can see this program growing to other levels of the supply chain and making a significant impact in our community.”

Bikes for Kids Wisconsin will hire a program administrator to oversee Meals on 2 Wheels. In addition, the organization will recruit up to 100 volunteer riders who will log 12-15 miles and deliver groceries to at least two and up to eight households. 

The organization’s vision is to purchase four e-cargo bikes specifically for the Meals on 2 Wheels initiative. This will maximize efficiency and accessibility to volunteers who do not have e-bikes and still wish to participate.

They also plan to launch purchasing software for those looking to purchase meals, develop a maintenance fund for the bicycles in use and organize volunteer appreciation events and retention efforts.

“I was in a conversation with community leaders about food accessibility this past Labor Day,” Kristie GoForth, executive director of Bikes for Kids Wisconsin, said. “That’s when I had this aha moment—we can provide the delivery mechanism with our robust network of volunteers who love to bike and love to give back and we have the bikes and the ability to maintain them. Our city is ideal for this innovative system of food delivery. The pieces fell into place rather quickly as well as our partnership with The River Food Pantry. We serve the same demographics in our nonprofits so it’s an ideal collaboration.”