A coalition of 36 Dane County food pantries released a letter to the community on Tuesday, sounding an alarm about the rising number of people facing food insecurity and the need for both immediate support and longer-term solutions to the challenges of distributing enough food to meet the growing need.
The letter, published as a full-page ad in Tuesday’s print edition of the Wisconsin State Journal, begins: “Dane County, we need your help.” The cost of the ad was co-sponsored by United Way of Dane County and the newspaper.
“As Dane County food pantries, we serve thousands of people in our community each day. Our shared mission is to make sure our neighbors don’t face hunger,” the letter said. “But we are facing a serious challenge.”
The food pantries also held a press conference Tuesday morning at the state Capitol, where they were joined by local officials and community leaders, including Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Janel Heinrich, Executive Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County, state legislators, county supervisors, and other invited guests. The event drew broad coverage from local media.
Wisconsin State Journal: Madison-area food pantries struggle to meet rising demand
Middleton-Cross Plains Times Tribune: WayForward, Other Food Pantries Issue Call to Action
Wisconsin Public Radio: Many Dane County food pantries are spending more on food than ever before
City Cast Madison: Interview with WayForward Executive Director Ellen Carlson
News 3 Now: Dane County food pantries ask for assistance
WMTV 15: Dane County food pantries pushing for more financial help
WKOW 27: Local food pantries call on Dane County community for support as demand increases
WORT Radio: Dane County Food Pantries Issue Call To Action, Amidst Shortages And High Demand
Spectrum News: ‘We are facing a serious challenge’: Over 3 dozen pantries come together in call for help
InBusiness: 3 dozen local food pantries issue call to action over scarce resources
WisPolitics: Local food pantries issue call to action, “Dane County, we need your help.”
Wisconsin Eye: News Conference: Dane County Food Pantry Leaders on Food Insecurity [Signup required for a free account to watch]
Hunger Action Month is a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of hunger, encourage people to take action towards supporting those facing hunger and address the systemic inequities that can lead to someone being food insecure.
We’re sharing four ways you can get involved and help make a difference.
#1 Donate to your local food pantry
- Shop our Top 10 list and check with other Dane County pantries for their most urgent needs, including: Badger Prairie Needs Network, Goodman Community Center Fritz Food Pantry, The River Food Pantry, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry.
#2 Wear orange
- Get ready for Go Orange Day on Friday, September 15, and invite others to join us in building a community where everyone has access to nutritious food and the stability to thrive.
#3 Learn more about food insecurity
- Listen to Feeding America’s podcast “Elevating Voices, Ending Hunger”
- Read this recent story from Wisconsin Watch: “Support for food insecurity rose during the pandemic, but Wisconsin families now left with patchwork of solutions to hunger”
- Get the basics on Food Security from the Wisconsin Food Security Project at UW-Madison
#4 Organize a food drive!
- Food drives are one of the ways we keep our shelves stocked with a variety of options for people who shop the pantry. You can organize a drive in your office, school, sports team, faith community, neighborhood or other group. Get started now
WayForward Resources welcomed nearly 100 people to an open house on June 5 celebrating our new name.
Volunteers, supporters and local officials visited the food pantry to meet staff and take mini-tours to learn more about our mission to build food security and housing stability. The event included a ceremonial ribbon cutting by the Middleton Chamber of Commerce, led by Executive Director Ellen Carlson.
The event received media coverage from NBC 15 and WKOW.
More than 1,200 people shopped the Holiday Art Market on December 3 and 4, which raised more than $41,000, including $19,400 in sponsorships. More than four dozen local artists appeared at the market, donating at least 20% of their sales to MOM. ReMitts sold more than $5,300 at the market, donating 100% directly to MOM. Thank you to Food Concepts, Inc. for hosting the event in its beautiful space and to our sponsors, artists, volunteers and everyone who attended for making this event a success. We love seeing what happens when our community comes together to support food security and housing stability for our neighbors. Take a peek at some scenes from the market! WATCH VIDEO