Places to Get Food Assistance in Times of Job Loss in Dane County
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Let’s face it – this pandemic has changed a lot of families for the duration. Some families had to choose wh ich parent would stay home when the kids were sent home from school. Some parents had “non-essential” jobs and couldn’t go to work. Financially? This has become a time of hardship for many as they are trying to figure out a way to pay their bills or feed their families. That is why we put together a local list of Food Assistance.
Places to Get Food Assistance in Times of Job Loss (Dane County, WI area)
First of all:
EMERGENCY FOOD for Food Assistance
Individuals with limited or no income can dial 2-1-1 from any phone to identify the nearby emergency food options. Most food pantries in Dane County have now switched to curbside or drive-thru pickup to minimize points of contact between volunteers, staff, and shoppers. Then there is:
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS – FOOD SHARE AND WIC
Individuals with limited means may qualify for supplemental nutrition assistance from the federal government. These programs will provide benefits that can be spent like cash at grocery retailers.
The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP, known as Food Share in Wisconsin) benefits can be applied for at https://access.wisconsin.gov/access/.
Women, Infant and Children (WIC) benefits for pregnant or postpartum women and children under age five can be requested for at https://www.publichealthmdc.com/health-services/women-infants-children-wic-program/pre-qualification-form.
Now let’s talk food pantries:
MADISON AREA FOOD PANTRIES for Food Assistance
- Allied Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Wednesdays 10 – 12 noon and 6 – 7:30 pm
Both perishable and non-perishable items are available along with hygiene products and toiletries. The items are given out based on the number of individuals in a family. People who live in ZIP codes 53711, 53713 & 53719 are eligible to come once in 4 weeks. No advance registration is needed, but ID for each family member is a must.
- Bashford Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Monday and Wednesday – 9 am to 10:15 am, Tuesday and Thursday – 6 pm to 7 pm
Since pantry hours are limited, appointments are strongly recommended. People with appointments will be served earlier than the walk-ins. ID is required, and people are expected to choose food based on what is available on that day.
- Bethel Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Mondays to Fridays – 12 noon to 3 pm.
One must call 608.257.3577 on the day on which he intends to use the pantry. Fifteen families are registered per day on first called, first-served basis. The pantry can be accessed only once a month.
- Bread of Life Food Pantry, St Paul’s Lutheran Church
Hours of Operation: Every Wednesday at 5 pm, just before the 6 pm service
Kids from Kindergarten to 5th grade come with their families and meet in the Fellowship Hall for a hearty family meal. Children from 6th to 8th grade often participate, but numbers are few.
- Catholic Multicultural Center Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – 2 pm to 4 pm, Thursday – 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
The food pantry is open for all who need food assistance. Family can use the pantry only once per week. It has a good supply of baked products and fresh produce and also personal hygiene items.
- East Madison Community Center
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – 12 noon to 4 pm
To access the pantry, an individual needs to bring an ID and a document to prove that he is a resident of Dane County. Toiletries are given out on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Clothing and household items are distributed on the 4th Tuesday of the month.
- Goodman Community Center Fritz Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – 9:30 am to 12 noon, Wednesday – 6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday – 12:30 pm to 3 pm
Pre-packaged bags containing non-perishable items are distributed during the pantry hours. It has groceries to feed more than 100 households per week.
- Grace Episcopal Church Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 1 pm to 3 pm, Saturday – 10 am to Noon
Housed within the Grace Church, the Grace Church Food Pantry relies on donations to fill the shelves week after week. They cater to over 300 families each month with fresh produce, meat, packaged goods, toiletry items, and diapers.
- Heights Unlimited
Hours of Operation: Tuesdays – 4 to 6:30 pm, 2nd Saturday – 10 to 11:30 am
They are committed to providing food, clothing, and hygiene essentials to all those who are in real need. They generally cater to Wisconsin Heights School District and the surrounding communities.
- Kennedy Heights Community Center Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Not specified
The Kennedy Heights Food Pantry program provides residents with food. The pantry is run by the resident volunteers and is capable of serving up to 50 families per week. It is a unique pantry that allows client choice, which means that people can choose their foods from the pantry.
- Lakeview Lutheran Church Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Mondays – 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
The on-site food pantry is well stocked and managed by the pantry volunteers. Located on the lower level of Lakeview Lutheran Church, the pantry is fully accessible, but people need to bring in ID and proof of address.
- Lussier Community Education Center
Hours of Operation: Opens twice a week
It offers people nutritious meals almost 14 times in a year. Shoppers are required to produce proof of address and photo ID.
- Meadowood Neighborhood Center
Hours of Operation: Tuesdays – 6 pm to 7:45 pm, Thursdays (only seniors) – 11:30 am to 1:00 pm and Saturdays – 12:30 to 2:30 pm
The pantry is open every Thursday within the specified timings.
- Mount Zion Baptist Church
Hours of Operation: Not specified
The pantry at the Mount Zion Baptist Church is there to feed the destitute and the needy.
- St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday and Friday – 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, Thursday – 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm
The food here is packed in boxes that are provided in the pantry lot and then loaded into the vehicles. The pantry is well-stocked and offers several healthy food choices that include vegetables, fresh fruits, and proteins.
- The River Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Friday – 10 am to 3 pm
This pantry allows curbside pick-up only but has implemented certain changes to ensure that majority gets access to food.
OUTLYING FOOD PANTRIES for Food Assistance
- Badger Prairie Needs Network
Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday – 10 am to Noon, Thursday – 11 am to 6:30 pm, Friday – 10 am to Noon, Saturday – 10 am to 12:30 pm
The food pantry is operational for more than three decades. They have a huge variety of fresh and frozen produce, milk, eggs, chicken, and even frozen pizza! Their packaged goods include cereal, pasta, baking supplies, and canned tuna.
- Belleville Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Tuesdays – 8 am to 12 pm, Thursdays – 1 pm to 4 pm
The pantry is open to residents of Belleville School District and also encourages walk-ins. Here one can get bakery and bread items, milk vouchers, toilet paper, soaps, canned items, etc.
- Blue Mounds Countryside Communities Center
Hours of Operation: Thursday – 9 am to 11 am, 4 pm to 6 pm
The guests are allowed to visit the pantry only once a week and can collect two days’ worth of food. Proof of address and ID is required for this.
- Cambridge Food Pantry and Resource Center
Hours of Operation: Not Specified
Everyone should maintain decorum, and it is expected that cell phone use will be restricted. A photo ID is a must for each visit, and one is advised to take resources in limited quantities.
- Deerfield Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Every Wednesday,( 12 pm to 2:30 pm) 2nd Saturday, ( 9 am to 11 am ) 4th Thursday ( 6 to 7 pm).
They expect each household to use the pantry only when needed. An ID is required for each family member. The members must reside within the boundaries of Deerfield School District to avail of the pantry services.
- DeForest Area Community & Senior Center
Hours of Operation: Fridays – 10:15 to 11:15 am
Surplus food is distributed from the caterers, bakeries, grocers, and restaurants to all the people in need.
- McFarland Community Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Mondays – 3 pm to 6 pm, 3rd Saturday of the month – 9 am to 10:30 am
Their mission is to serve food to the needy in the McFarland School District. The people here are very humble and serve all in the McFarland area who need assistance.
- Middleton Outreach Ministry
Hours of Operation: Not specified
It operates six days/week and serves more than 4,000 people every month. It is one of the most progressive pantries, and it follows a unique model.
- Mt. Horeb Area Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Not specified
The pantry gives food and other essential household items to families who reside in the Mt. Horeb Area School District. They help people who are in temporary struggles.
- Oregon Area Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Tuesdays – 9 to 11 am, 2nd and Last Thursday – 4 to 7 pm
All guests must bring in ID. Pre-packed food and curbside pick-up have been introduced for the guests. The guests usually have choices when picking up food, but it may not always be possible with curbside pick-up.
- Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 10 am to 1:45 pm, Tuesday and Thursday – 5 pm to 6:45 pm, Saturday – 9 am to 10:45 am
All visitors must bring a photo ID and proof of address. The groceries that are available in the pantry include canned vegetables, canned tuna, salmon, peanut butter, and occasionally chicken.
- Waunakee Food Pantry
Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday and Friday – timings vary
The food pantry helps many families in the Waunakee community. IDs are compulsory, and it is basically a drive-thru pantry. It has been serving people for more than 40 years and continuing.
MEAL SITES for Food Assistance
- Catholic Multicultural Center
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday – 4:00 to 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday – 11 am to 12 pm
It is the only organization that offers free community meal each day of the week. There is no need to register beforehand; anyone can come during the mealtime.
- Luke House
Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday – 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, Sunday to Thursday – 5:45 pm to 6:30 pm
It provides food to thousands of residents in the community for at least nine times a week. It also serves brown bag meals and also provides sandwiches, cookies, and fruit.
- Savory Sunday
Hours of Operation: Sundays – 2 pm
Located in the basement of the Wisconsin State Capitol Building, they provide good food to the needy.
Have kids? Here is where they can get a free lunch and breakfast for the next day: (pull them all out of the site and make a list of names, hours, etc.)
- Madison School District
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday – 11:00 to 11:45 am
It offers bagged breakfasts (free) and lunches for children only at as many as 12 sites across the district at the following sites – Lake View Elementary School, Badger Rock Middle School, Memorial High School, and Leopold Elementary School.
Meal pickups between Noon and 12:45 pm take place on weekdays at Cherokee Middle School, La Follette High School, and Sherman Middle School.
Meal Pick-ups between 1 to 1:45 pm took place at Lincoln Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School, East High School, and Toki Middle School.
- YMCA
Hours of Operation: Each and every day 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
The YMCA has two programs – one for children and one for the elderly. The program that has been designed for children provides as many as 100 meals at different sites in Sun Prairie like McKenzie Family Club, Rolling Prairie Apartments Clubhouse, The Element on Main Apartments Clubhouse and Sun Prairie VFW Post.
Each and every child is provided with both breakfast and lunch. The seniors get the meals from Monday to Friday, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at West YMCA, East YMCA, and Sun Prairie YMCA.
Food Pantries that deliver Food Assistance
Food pantries are also organizing grocery delivery and curbside pickup meals at various sites in Madison.
- The Goodman Community Center
Hours of Operation: Tuesdays – 9:30 am to Noon, Wednesdays – 6 to 8 pm, Thursdays – 12:30 pm to 3 pm
Pre-packaged bags of food are available for pickup at the food pantry in Waubesa St.
- The First United Methodist Church
It is engaged in delivering emergency food packages. Families who are in dire need of these can get it home delivered just by calling 608 – 251 – 4407.
There are also other food pantries which have been mentioned above. But, it is to be noted that River Food Pantry offers special lunches for children and teens from Monday through Saturday at various locations like Oak Park Terrace, Kennedy Heights, Northport Apartments, Packers Townhouses, Parkcrest Apartments, Vera Court Neighborhood et al.
Did we miss something that should be on our list? PLEASE let us all know in the comments.
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