Feeding Wisconsin team members help our neighbors statewide apply for FoodShare and other resources: Meet Jordan Cortes

Posted by Cecelia Schieve in on Feb 1, 2022 Tagged:

Jordan Cortes is a Bilingual Outreach Specialist for Feeding Wisconsin. As part of the Statewide FoodShare Helpline team, he connects Wisconsinites interested in the FoodShare Program (also known as QUEST, EBT, and SNAP) with information, eligibility screenings and friendly, high-quality application assistance.  

Jordan is originally from Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. He has lived in Madison for eight years and joined the Helpline staff two years ago. As a Bilingual Outreach Specialist, he appreciates that he is able to welcome people from all different backgrounds to learn more about FoodShare, help those eligible to apply, and refer them to other public assistance resources if needed. When he is not providing Spanish and English assistance on the Helpline, Jordan is busy with sports and enjoying nature. 

Know someone who needs a little help? Direct them to the FoodShare Helpline at 1-877-366-3635. They can find more information at www.GetAQuestCard.org.

FoodShare materials in English, Spanish and Hmong are available in food pantries and community centers throughout the state.

Hunger Fighter in Action: Lana Raffensperger

Posted by Cecelia Schieve in on Dec 2, 2021 Tagged:

Photo: Sisters in turkey hats - Hollie Nairns (Lana's sister) on left and Lana on right

Lana Raffensperger is a dedicated Hunger Fighter whose childhood experience with hunger inspired a lifelong passion to help people who do not have enough food. Among the many ways she volunteers to help her community, for the past ten years she has been responsible for gathering volunteers for Second Harvest Southern Wisconsin’s monthly mobile pantry in Beaver Dam.

When Lana was a young child, her father hunted all kinds of small game to supplement what they grew in a small garden. After he passed away, Lana’s mother and her eight siblings depended on food distributed by the government, such as cheese and powdered milk and eggs, and what they could buy with food stamps. She remembers times when there was not enough to feed her large family. Lana married and her situation changed, but she has never forgotten what it was like to be food insecure and she has tirelessly helped others have food ever since, both as a volunteer and when she managed restaurants for fifteen years and never turned away anyone hungry.