"That means they're receiving money and putting it back into the economy, which is a good thing," he said. He thinks fewer families had to rely on pantries between federal stimulus checks, expanded unemployment benefits and increased government food assistance.
OACP saw a decrease in families using the pantry as the government's financial support for households increased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wittman said. "I do not order any fresh produce or vegetables that all comes from them," he said, adding a small portion also comes from donors who harvest their gardens for the pantry. Wittman said Feeding America supplies more than 90% of OACP's fruits and vegetables alone, along with around 50% of its meat. "We would not be able to do that without this program."įor the first eight months of the year, the pantry was distributing 93 pounds of food per household, up from 73 pounds for the same period in 2020 and 59 pounds in 2019. "These are extremely fresh, beautiful packages of meat," she said. "Having it brought right to them, right from the store, has increased the amount of produce and dairy that is available to neighbors in need."įondy Food Pantry nearly quadrupled the amount of meat they can give to their households through the program, Breth said, and she's impressed with the quality of all the produce. "People enjoy getting that product much quicker, and delivery has been a big help," she said. So far, she said, the pantries have given positive feedback. Habeck said Feeding America partners with local retailers such as Costco, Pick 'N Save and Meijer and others to stop excess produce from going to waste. Pantries have to be large enough to use the produce, which can range from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds per delivery.
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"This program helps us solve at least one part of that issue: How to get fresh product to pantries without (them) having to worry about transporting," Habeck said.įive pantries currently use the program: OACP, Fondy Food Pantry, Heart of the Valley in Kimberly, Feeding Our Communities with United Services in Wisconsin Rapids and Waushara County Food Pantry in Wautoma. Patti Habeck, CEO and president of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, said the Fresh Stop program started in northeastern Wisconsin about a year ago to help address one of the largest challenges faced by hunger relief organizations: Transportation. "If we had to purchase all of that, we wouldn't be able to purchase enough."įresh Stop is just one of the Feeding America programs that is supported through the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin's Stock the Shelves campaign, an annual partnership with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to raise funds that support the food bank's work to fight hunger and support local food pantries.
"We're getting very high-quality meat and produce that comes in the door and goes right back out to the households we serve," she said. Sandy Breth, treasurer of the Fondy Food Pantry, another recent addition to the Fresh Stop program, called it a game changer. Wittman said the Fresh Stop program has allowed OACP families to get all the produce they need, as well as introducing more variety that helps serve the pantry's diverse population. The food is typically excess that would otherwise be thrown away but still is in good condition. To meet that need, the pantry recently signed up for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin's Fresh Stop program, which delivers fresh fruits, vegetables and meats - as well as some dry goods -from local retailers directly to food pantries.
But those are often the most expensive and in demand. Wittman, the inventory manager for the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry, said stocking fresh fruit, vegetables and meats is an important part of ensuring households that use the pantry have nutritional meals. OSHKOSH – When it comes to stocking the shelves, Brandon Wittman knows some of the most vital items can also be the most difficult, and costly, to get. View Gallery: Oshkosh Area Food Pantry stocks Feeding America produce
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