No one should have to go hungry
According to Feeding America, in 2021, 53 million people turned to food banks and community programs to Food insecurity has been a reality for many people in Dane County and with COVID19 and rising consumer prices, it has increased. We want to make it easy for people to learn of food resources through this list below:
Food Resources in the madison area
Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN)
Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN)
Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN)
BPNN operates one of the busiest food pantries in Dane County, Wisconsin. The pantry serves all of Dane County with a 100% volunteer staff. BPNN has expanded its service area to include all households in Dane County, implemented curbside pick-up, and increased the number of visits to two per month.
Extended Hands Pantry
Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN)
Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN)
Established in 2019, Extended Hands Pantry aims to serve area families and individuals with compassionate acts of love. It's founders have been engaged in battling hunger for over twenty years and developed extensive and comprehensive knowledge of local food systems and food needs.
Goodman Community Center (GCC)
Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN)
Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens
GCC is committed to creating and maintaining a community that respects and values diverse life experiences. From the Fritz food pantry, Hunger Heroes drive, Thanksgiving baskets, and countless other initiatives, GCC has been dedicated to solving the problem of hunger in our community.
Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens
Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)
Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens
Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens (MAFPG) has a 20-year history reducing food waste and supplying fresh produce to the Dane County emergency food system.In a typical year, MAFPG supplies up to 100,000 pounds of produce (2 million pounds in the past 21 years) through the collaboration of over 700 volunteers and community partners each year (10,000 volunteers in the past 21 years).
Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)
Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)
Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)
MMSD, in partnership with Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, is proud to offer a number of school-based food pantries for MMSD families and in the case of the drive through distributions - the entire community.
Click on the link below for information and to learn of locations and times.
Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM)
Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)
Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)
Mom was founded 40 years ago when community members of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church recognized there were neighbors that could use their assistance. Their work is still made possible by our community including more than 400 regular volunteers and 8,000 current donors. In fact, MOM is 100% funded by the community and does not rely on any government support.
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Second Harvest works to end hunger in southwestern Wisconsin. They bring food to the community through partnerships and collaboration to meet the nutritional needs of people facing hunger. Additionally, they are able to reduce waste by connecting with food-related businesses and farmers. They handle food acquisition, storage and distribution.
St. Vincent de Paul
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison is committed to helping our neighbors in need. About 115 households turn to their food pantry each day it is open. Through drive-through service, online ordering or at-home deliveries, St. Vincent de Paul gets food (along with personal-care items, pet food, and other household essentials) to people here in Dane County.
The River Food Pantry
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
United Way of Dane County
The River Food Pantry serves over 1,000 diverse households each week inSouth Central Wisconsin. Their services include free groceries for curbside or delivery, online grocery orders, freshly prepared to-go meals, and mobile lunches for children and adults in low-income neighborhoods. They partner with local organizations to minimize food waste and improve access to reliable sources of food.
United Way of Dane County
United Way of Dane County
United Way of Dane County
The United Way of Dane County runs a free information service 24/7 designed to connect those in need with service providers; including those looking for an emergency food resource. Just dial 211 on your phone, give them your zip code, and they will tell you where the nearest emergency food provider.
Little Pantries
One City Schools
Prairie Road Pantry
One City Schools
Located at 2012 Fisher Street, Madison, WI 53713.
Donations can be left by the front door at the school
Healing House
Prairie Road Pantry
One City Schools
Located at 303 Lathrop Street, Madison, WI 53726.
Please see current SIGN UP list of needed items. Donations can be left prior to each Wednesday in the Rubbermaid bin on the front porch.
Prairie Road Pantry
Prairie Road Pantry
Prairie Road Pantry
Located at 1417 Prairie Road, Madison, WI 53711.
Donations can be dropped off anytime. Most needed items are toiletries, diapers, and snacks.
Hunger in our community
The USDA found that more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States, are food insecure. In Wisconsin alone 415,400 people are facing hunger, and of them, 160,890 are children.
Facts About Hunger
- The pandemic has increased food insecurity among families with children and communities of color, who already faced hunger at much higher rates before the pandemic.
- Every community in the country is home to families who face hunger. But rural communities are especially hard hit by hunger.
- Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and visit their local food banks and other food programs for extra support.
- Hunger in African American, Latino, and Native American communities is higher because of systemic racial injustice. To achieve a hunger-free America, we must address the root causes of hunger and structural and systemic inequities.
Facts About Food Insecurity
What is it?
Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a household or can last a long time. Food insecurity is one way we can measure how many people cannot afford food.
According to the USDA, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children experience food insecurity in the United States.
What causes it?
Unfortunately, many people in America struggle to meet their basic needs which increases their risk of food insecurity. Lay-offs at work, unexpected car maintenance, or an accident on the job can suddenly force a family to choose between buying food and paying bills.
The causes of food insecurity are complex. Some of the causes of food insecurity include:
- Poverty, unemployment, or low income
- Lack of affordable housing
- Chronic health conditions or lack of access to healthcare
- Systemic racism and racial discrimination
What are the effects?
Food insecurity can have a wide impact, depending on each individual’s circumstances. Some of the most common, yet complex, effects of food insecurity include:
- Serious health complications, especially when people facing hunger are forced to choose between spending money on food and medicine or medical care
- Damage to a child’s ability to learn and grow
- Difficult decisions such as choosing between paying for food and heat, electricity, rent, and transportation
Learn more about the unique challenges hunger poses for America’s diverse communities ›
**Information from Feeding America**
