Hunger relief organizations receive $10 million funding

Two of Wisconsin’s largest hunger relief organizations, will receive an additional $10 million to help serve Wisconsinites experiencing food insecurity, during the COVID- 19 pandemic. That brings the investment in Wisconsin’s agricultural and food industries during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to $75 million.

The effort through the the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), is the latest in a series of efforts designed to help support Wisconsin farmers and food processors, while helping people in need. Hunger Task Force and Feeding Wisconsin will each receive $5 million in grant funding.

The money will be used to purchase Wisconsin food for distribution, such as milk, cheese, pork, beef, potatoes and cherries, as well as for food storage and transportation.

“COVID-19 has brought uncertainty for many people, but no one should have to worry about how they’ll feed themselves or their family,” said Randy Romanski, DATCP secretary-designee. “The Food Security Initiative has already helped many organizations adjust to the pandemic and provide high-quality, nutritious Wisconsin food products to people in need, across our state.”

Feeding Wisconsin has a statewide network of six food banks, and almost 1,000 food programs that the funding will benefit.

“At a time when we are seeing a 70 percent increase in demand for our services and our food banks are purchasing more food than ever before,” said Feeding Wisconsin’s executive director, Stephanie Jung Dorfman,” these funds are enabling us to source great Wisconsin products, to distribute to our neighbors faced with food insecurity during this challenging time.”