Food pantries around Wisconsin are struggling to keep up with the demand to provide meals to those who need assistance obtaining food, and unfortunately, the situation is no different in Manitowoc.
“In the last month alone, we’ve seen a 44% increase in the number of participants receiving food resources. This comes at a time when food resources being brought into our pantry are at an all-time low and financially, donations are at an all-time low,” Grow It Forward CEO Amber Daugus told Seehafer News.
Daugus said this was partly due to rising inflation but also because the country was entering a general election period.
However, at the federal level, there is another issue regarding access to the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
Daugus said he wants to increase access to the program by removing barriers.
That may sound like a good thing, as it means more people are eligible for food assistance at a time when resources are limited.
“We have been informed that large amounts of food have been rejected by the state through this program due to a lack of state funding for the delivery and storage of the food,” she told Seehafer News.
Last year, the Grow it Forward food pantry fed more than 1,900 people and provided supplies to approximately 300-500 people each week.
Daugus said anyone can donate food or money to Grow It Forward, but he encourages people to go to stores that sell in bulk to get the most out of their donations rather than going to the grocery store.
Daggs continued that it’s hard to predict when things will return to normal, but the food pantry will be keeping a close eye on the November election and how the federal government continues to support food programs.
Anyone can visit the Harmony Cafe in downtown Manitowoc because every dollar earned there will help provide three meals for people in need.
