Hunger Task Force Connects Food Pantries Across the State with over $162K in Grants for Capacity Building
Hunger Task Force recently concluded its work on the Reach & Resiliency Initiative – a multi-year, multi-phase project that awarded $162,194 dollars’ worth of equipment to more than 30 food pantries across Wisconsin. Through the initiative, rural and remote pantries that provide TEFAP foods were able to apply for a grant to expand their capacity to become better positioned to serve their communities and alleviate hunger. The initiative was made possible through a collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), University of Wisconsin Extension, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, various community action programs and other partners.
DHS partnered with UW Extension beginning in 2022 to survey nearly 350 TEFAP and non-TEFAP food pantries in Wisconsin to understand their experiences serving their communities and uncover opportunities for expansion of TEFAP. Survey analysis indicated priority counties across the state to invest funds.
As an administering agency, Hunger Task Force conducted outreach to pantry partners across Wisconsin from 2023 to 2024, to increase the number of TEFAP pantries. As a result, Hunger Task Force encouraged four partners in rural and remote areas across Wisconsin to become TEFAP pantries, expanding their capacity and access to healthy foods.
The initiative also worked to supply existing TEFAP partners with the necessary equipment needed to increase their capacity. Hunger Task Force identified pantries that could benefit from equipment and managed the purchasing and delivery to 32 pantries in 27 counties in Wisconsin.
One of the pantries Hunger Task Force helped is the Community Center of Hope in Mosinee. The organization applied for and received funding for shelving, a refrigerator, a freezer and shopping carts.
“Small pantries like ours are constantly struggling for resources. Once we buy what we need to serve our clients, there isn’t anything left over for infrastructure,” said Amy Bergstrom, Executive Director of Community Center for Hope. “This grant allowed us to prioritize making our client experience better without dipping into dollars that could have been allocated for food purchases. We are so incredibly grateful we were able to receive this grant.”
Hunger Task Force also connected the Lakeland Pantry in Arbor Vitae with funding for four shelving units.
“Lakeland Pantry is deeply grateful for the investments made possible through Reach & Resiliency funding,” said Lisa Knuth, Board Member of Lakeland Pantry. “This support allowed us to enhance the efficiency of our operations and better scale our services to meet the growing needs of our community. As a proud Federation partner, we benefit from ongoing education, advocacy, vital resources and a strong network of organizations united in the fight against food insecurity.”
Many rural and remote communities across the state are historically underserved and have limited capacity to ensure food security among those in need. Reach & Resiliency provided much-needed equipment to pantries that are now better positioned to address hunger in their communities.
