Nearly half a million Wisconsinites face hunger. Here's how you can support your local food bank
As nearly half a million Wisconsinites face hunger, including 171,469 children, pantries across the state have increasing need for food and toiletry items to serve their community.
Food insecurity affects all ages of people, from children to older adults, across the state. According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap data, in 2021 people facing hunger in Wisconsin were estimated to need just over $263 million more per year to meet their food needs.
In Ozaukee County, people don't always recognize there are people in need, said Mark Gierach, executive director of Ozaukee Food Alliance. In 2022, their pantry served an average of about 600 families per month. Now they're serving about 675 families per month.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee pantry, which serves an average of 300 students per week, has also seen an increase in need this year.
"In spring of 2022, we were going through 1,500 pounds of food a week. And now we go through about 4,000," said basic needs coordinator Allie Dorshorst.
With increasing need, we asked food pantries what food they need the most, and what items you can skip. Here's how to help.
What are the best things to donate to a local pantry?
Pantries often need the following foods:
Peanut butter
Canned soup
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables
Canned stew
Canned fish
Canned beans
Pasta
Rice
Some food banks also accept toiletries and other personal care and household items. Pantries like the Lord's Cupboard in Oconomowoc said they're low on items like toothpaste, facial tissue, paper towels and toilet paper.
What are food items that pantries don't need?
Here are some items you can't donate:
Leftovers: Food banks can't accept your leftovers or anything made in your kitchen. The food bank can't verify the ingredients or the safety of its preparation.
Expired foods: If the food is past its expiration or sell-by date, don't donate it because it could be unsafe to consume.
Food with damaged packaging: Don't donate cans that are dented or bloated, or packaging that is already open.
Baked goods: Similar to leftovers, pantries can't confirm the ingredients of baked goods or that they were prepared safely. Food banks often work with local restaurants or bakeries that donate extra baked goods.
Some pantries will not accept items needing refrigeration, especially foods that easily spoil like dairy and meat. Your local pantry might not have the refrigerator or freezer space needed to store those items. Call ahead before planning on dropping off any refrigerated items.
Where can I find a pantry near me?
Feeding America supplies a network of food programs around Wisconsin. For a list of pantries supported by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, visit feedingamericawi.org/find-help.
Want to help? Here's how to donate to Stock the Shelves
During October, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin newspapers and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin are working together to raise enough money from readers and donors to provide 750,000 meals to Wisconsin families through the annual Stock the Shelves campaign. Each dollar donated equals about four meals, or $10 in food.
The campaign will support communities served by the following newspapers: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Appleton Post Crescent, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, Oshkosh Northwestern, Fond du Lac Reporter, Sheboygan Press, Wausau Daily Herald, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Marshfield News-Herald, Stevens Point Journal, Door County Advocate and Oconto County Reporter.
Donations will help support people in the same community where the donor lives.
To donate online, visit feedingamericawi.org/stocktheshelvesdonate.
To donate by mail, checks made payable to Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin, ATTN: Stock the Shelves, should be sent to 2911 W. Evergreen Drive, Appleton WI 54913.
Enclose with your contribution the donor’s address with city, state and ZIP code for internal processing, a notation of whether the donation should remain anonymous, whether the donation is in the memory of someone special. Also list the donor’s name as it should appear in a thank-you advertisement to be published in the Thanksgiving editions of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin’s daily newspapers.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's what Wisconsin food pantries need the most, and what you can skip
