During September for Hunger Action Month, our community came together to take action against hunger by raising food and awareness of food insecurity among our neighbors. We’re excited to share that our Take Action Against Hunger Challenge collected an incredible 27,753 pounds of non-perishable food for WayForward’s food pantry. We accomplished this thanks to the contributions and generosity of many community members and over 20 local businesses, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and neighborhoods that coordinated food drives. We exceeded our ambitious initial goal of 25,000 pounds through the creativity, dedication, and heartfelt investment of our incredible Hunger Action Month donors, drive organizers, and volunteers.

This year, Hunger Action Month was jumpstarted with an additional contribution from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which trucked in a donation of 33,724 pounds of shelf-stable food (partly pictured above). Our neighbors at Springs Window Fashions helped WayForward receive and unload this vast donation! Later that same morning, we welcomed energized local leaders from across nonprofit, business, and government who came out to express their support at our Hunger Action Month Kickoff (see a few photos below and a video compilation of the day at the bottom of this page). More community donations came in during September to support our neighbors, including 33,242 pounds of food from Certco, a frequent food pantry donor.

Throughout the month of September, WayForward engaged our community to raise awareness about hunger and delve more deeply into the topic of rising food insecurity. We invited our neighbors to a free panel discussion, co-presented with the Middleton Public Library and facilitated by Library Director Jocelyne Sansing. Our panel of experts included Jackie Anderson (Executive Director, Feeding Wisconsin), Nicholas Heckman (Food Systems & Food Security Coordinator, Public Health Madison & Dane County), Jennifer Wagner (Director of Medicaid Eligibility & Enrollment, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities), and Meghan Sohns (Vice President of Programming, WayForward Resources). These panelists shed light on the interconnected challenges that lead to food insecurity, shared their insights as contributors to the emergency food system, explored cooperative approaches to create sustainable food access in our community, and fielded thoughtful questions from attendees. Special event presenters included City of Middleton Mayor Lisa Janairo and the new e-board of Middleton Meals Matter.

The City of Middleton and Village Board of Cross Plains also played a vital role in creating awareness of food insecurity by proclaiming September as Hunger Action Month. WayForward was honored to be presented with the declarations at their meetings that month. Supporters of WayForward and our Hunger Action Month challenge had fun “going orange” to spread hunger awareness at multiple events throughout the month, including at each municipality’s Hunger Action Month proclamation and Hunger Action Day on September 29.

At Chip in to End Hunger, WayForward’s annual golf fundraiser held at Bishops Bay Country Club, we enjoyed a day of levity and togetherness as sponsors and community members hit the course for a cause. Thanks to their contributions and the work of our volunteers, Chip In to End Hunger 2026 raised $101,200–the equivalent of over 85,000 meals to create food security. You can experience a bit of the fun captured from Chip In to End Hunger on WayForward’s social media.

Across Middleton, Madison, and Cross Plains, members of our community went above and beyond by running inventive and spirited food drives to benefit WayForward’s food pantry during Hunger Action Month. The owner of Spencer Real Estate, as one example, pledged that he would endure getting “slimed” if their food drive met their company’s donation goal for our Take Action Against Hunger Challenge. You can see the result on our social media accounts as Spencer’s colleagues and staff covered him in green goo and confetti to celebrate the completion of their food drive. Another group of enterprising community members in Cross Plains crafted Can-tastic sculptures made of canned food items at the Rosemary Garfoot Public Library, prompting visitors to vote for their favorite creation with a monetary donation or food contribution.

For many drive organizers, Hunger Action Month also provided the opportunity to reflect on our common values and community vision, which one staff member at Sorren described as: “A commitment to people, relationships, and making a positive impact… We both believe that strong communities are built when people have the support they need to succeed. Partnering with WayForward allows us to put those values into action and helps create opportunities for our neighbors to thrive.”

WayForward was heartened to see both returning and first-time Hunger Action Month participants, including the young students at High Point Christian School who won our Youth in Action Award, and the community at Middleton Glen (pictured below, top left) whose drive earned our Good Neighbor Award. Middleton UCC Community Church’s food drive (pictured below, bottom left) raised the largest collective amount for the second year running, exceeding their original goal and scoring them this year’s Most Neighbors Fed Award and our enduring appreciation!

The full list of Hunger Action Month awardees for 2026 includes:

• Spencer Real Estate – Best Video Award
• Can-Tastic Cross Plains – Most Creative Drive Award
• Middleton UCC Community Church – Most Neighbors Fed Award
• High Point Christian School – Youth in Action Award
• Middleton Meals Matter – Sustained Action Award
• Middleton Glen – Good Neighbor Award
• WEA Member Benefits – Competitive Spirit Award
• PUBG Studios Madison – Gamers for Good Award

Thank you to the elected and municipal leaders, local, state, and federal, who partnered with us during Hunger Action Month by bolstering awareness of hunger in our community through their communication channels, attending our events and stopping by during September, collecting and donating food, and helping stock our pantry shelves.

Major thanks to our 2026  Hunger Action Month sponsors, who provided $57,500 of crucial support for WayForward’s work to build food security for our neighbors:

• Food Concepts, Inc (FCI) – Hunger Action Month Community Partner
• Network Engineering Technologies (NET) & Keva Sports Center – Presenting Co-Sponsors
• Kiwanis International-Middleton Club, Latitude Graphics, Living in Madison, Madison Gas & Electric Foundation, MIG Commercial Real Estate, Starion Bank  – Weekly Sponsors
• AARP Wisconsin, Evergreen Healthcare Partners, Goldstein Advisors, Hoffman Manufacturing, State Farm Michael Wagner, Willy Street Co-op – Daily Sponsors
• Alpina Manufacturing, Environmental Control of Wisconsin, L&M Corrugated Metal Container Corporation, Star Brands, Uline – Friends of the Food Pantry Sponsors

See more Hunger Action Month photos and follow WayForward Resources on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.