Hunger in Wisconsin

Of the essential items in a household budget, its grocery line is its most flexible item.

We can’t pay half our rent for too long before getting evicted or losing our homes. We can't bargain shop our utility bill before the electricity goes off. We can't grow our own medical insurance to fill in the gaps of our health coverage.

But to make ends meet, we can cut corners on what we eat or skip meals.

We all sometimes skip a meal here and there when we’re busy or on the run, but most of us know that we have the available resources to eat what we want, when we want. 

Families living with food insecurity don’t share in this freedom.

And despite skipping meals, tight budgeting and rationing, sometimes the cupboards go bare at the end of the month. 

When we hit tough times, many of us are lucky enough to have parents, siblings, friends and neighbors who can help us through; and many of us have done that for others, giving of ourselves to help friends and neighbors in need.

For some, that kind of support isn't always there and that’s where our food banks and food pantries come in. We provide the access to the food and benefits to help our friends and neighbors bridge that gap so that they have the food they need to live, work and lead healthy lives. 

We help because these families are our friends and neighbors who may have fallen on tough times and are working hard to get their lives back on track.

We help because they are our children, who need the energy to learn, play, and grow.

We help because they are our older Wisconsinites, who have worked and given of themselves throughout their lives and are now living on fixed incomes.  

We help because they are our veterans, who have returned from service and are figuring out how to continue to serve their communities.

In other words, we help because "they" are us.