Freeze for Food

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Paul Schmidt

Runners and people cheering them on.

Runners during a past Freeze for Food event.

media release: Snow, sleet, or sunshine, Madison’s Freeze for Food race embodies the community’s commitment to making a difference. On Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM, the 44th annual event will bring together hundreds of participants to support refugees and immigrants in the Madison area in an effort to raise money to address food security issues. Organized by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin-Madison (RPCV), the race benefits Open Doors for Refugees (ODFR), a local nonprofit working to help refugee families resettle and thrive in their new homes.

Freeze for Food takes on critical importance in the face of ongoing challenges such as global displacement, economic recovery, and local food insecurity. With new arrivals from the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, support for ODFR is vital. Furthermore, as 2025 brings an increasingly uncertain political climate marked by anti-immigrant and refugee rhetoric, the work of ODFR and community-driven events like Freeze for Food is more crucial than ever to ensure that refugees continue to find the resources and solidarity they need to build new lives in Madison.

Starting at the Vilas Park shelter, the event the event includes a 5 or 10k walk/run. Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome, with the 5K open to families, strollers, and dogs on leashes, while the 10K provides a competitive course through the UW–Madison Arboretum. The Freeze for Food race is held in conjunction with Peace Corps Week, underscoring a shared mission of global and local impact.

In addition to funds raised through participant registrations, sponsors and donors play a vital role in the success of the Freeze for Food race each year. Over the past four decades, the event has raised more than $163,000 to combat food insecurity and support refugee families. In 2024 alone, it raised over $19,000, highlighting the powerful impact of collective community action. Speaking on behalf of the planning committee, co-chair Tricia Blanco shares, “A caring community makes this volunteer-run event a success! We are grateful to all the runners, walkers, donors, and sponsors for their continued support.”

Since its inception in 1982, the race has supported a range of organizations, including Oxfam and Colombia Support Network. However, since 2017, when Open Doors for Refugees (ODFR) became the primary beneficiary, over $85,000 has been donated to support their vital work in the Madison area.

When Freeze for Food launched, it was the only timed winter race. Today, it remains a standout among many. Despite March’s cold temperatures, running is a great way to warm up in Wisconsin’s winter. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather, and true to its name, the event never cancels, rain, snow, or shine.