Recent cuts in state and federal budgets are leaving local food banks and food assistance organizations concerned about accelerating food insecurity. On today’s show, guest host Jonathan Pollack speaks with local non-profit leaders Michelle Orge of Second Harvest, Jackie Anderson of Feeding Wisconsin, and Ellen Carlson of WayForward Resources about food insecurity in Southwest Wisconsin.

The guests describe an uptick in people accessing their services. There’s been a 13% rise in people considered food insecure in Southwest Wisconsin, says Orge. She describes how Second Harvest responded during COVID, a time when they needed so much more food than they could get access to. Even more recently, the rising housing costs in the Madison area are driving people to food banks, says Carlson, because “rent eats first.”

Cuts to food assistance programs in the federal budget are alarming to these organizations. Around 700,000 people in Wisconsin are poised to lose SNAP benefits, called the FoodShare program in Wisconsin. As people lose access to programs like this, they will have to rely more on food banks, says Anderson. Added to food insecurity are issues of childcare and the closure of rural hospitals. “Hunger makes everything harder,” says Orge. 

Feeding Wisconsin is the statewide association of Feeding America food banks, which source, warehouse, and provide food to hundreds of food pantries and other agencies across Wisconsin. WayForward Resources is an organization that creates food security and housing stability through action and advocacy in the Madison, Wisconsin area. Second Harvest of Southern Wisconsin, is a Feeding Wisconsin-affiliated food bank that serves a 16-county area across Southwest Wisconsin.

Jackie Anderson is the Executive Director of Feeding Wisconsin. She has worked in the non-profit sector for more than 25 years supporting communities and families by providing opportunities to improve overall health, support young people, and contribute to a stronger, more cohesive community for all.  

Ellen Carlson is the Executive Director of WayForward Resources. Ellen has worked at WayForward in a variety of positions since 2002 and has been Executive Director since 2017. Under her leadership, WayForward has tripled in size in an effort to meet the ever increasing demand for food supports and housing stability services.

Michelle Orge is the Executive Director of Second Harvest of Southern Wisconsin. 

Featured image of a food pantry box via USDA on Flickr. 

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