This September, over 20 local businesses and community organizations joined our Take Action Against Hunger Challenge to raise awareness and food during Hunger Action Month. With an ambitious goal to collect 25,000 pounds of food, participants initiated food drives across Dane County and engaged in a spirited competition to gather as much donated food as possible for the WayForward Resources pantry.
One dedicated community member even put their team pride on the line in support of Hunger Action Month. Laura Crow, a dedicated Bears fan and member of Middleton Community Church, pledged to shave the iconic Green Bay Packers “G” into her hair if the congregation met their 2,500-meal donation goal. Thanks to Laura’s daring offer and the church’s dedication to service, Middleton Community Church achieved the month’s largest food drive and contributed the equivalent of 3,493 meals. PUBG Studios Madison, a local video game developer, documented their cereal drive with a creative, and amazingly cinematic video featuring a long and winding cascade of boxes lined up like dominoes throughout their office. In total, PUBG donated enough food for 2,000 meals.
Thank you to the organizations, companies, and the many individuals in our community who joined our challenge this month to ensure our neighbors have enough nutritious food to not experience hunger. Through collective action, WayForward’s food pantry received 25,909 pounds of food for Hunger Action Month.
Profound thanks to all our Take Action Against Hunger Challenge 2025 participants:
City of Middleton, which officially proclaimed September 2025 as Hunger Action Month
Middleton Community Church, winner of the Exceptional Action Award & Laura Crow, winner of the G for Generosity Award
PUBG Studios Madison, winner of the Gamers in Action Award
High Point Christian School, winner of the Youth in Action Award
WEA Member Benefits, winner of the Can-Do Attitude Award
Evergreen Healthcare Partners, winner of the Refuel After School Award
Vierbicher Associates, winner of the Team Action Award
Middleton Hills Neighborhood, winner of the Good Neighbor Award
Waconia Park Owners Association, winner of the Newest Action Partner Award
Sketchworks Architecture
RSVP of Dane County
St. Bernard Catholic Church
Piggly Wiggly – Cross Plains
St. Peter Catholic Church
Forward Health Group
TEMPO of Madison
First Choice Dental
And the many individuals in our community who participated in the challenge!
Thank you also to local elected and municipal leaders including, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard, Wisconsin State Senator Kelda Roys, City of Middleton Mayor Emily Kuhn, Middleton Alders Charles Myers and Lisa Janairo, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Superintendent Dr. Dana E. Monogue, and the staff from the City of Middleton’s Planning and Zoning Department, stopped by WayForward Resources to drop off food donations, help stock our pantry shelves, and raise awareness during Hunger Action Month!
See more Hunger Action Month photos and follow WayForward Resources on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
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