Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, in partnership with the Alliant Energy Foundation, is proud to announce the expansion of Dairyland Delivery, a program that brings fresh, Wisconsin-produced dairy products directly to food pantry partners across Eastern Wisconsin.

The Dairyland Delivery program, which ran a pilot test in Greater Milwaukee in the Fall of 2023, is expanding to serve more communities by providing regular dairy deliveries to dozens of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s hunger relief partners. To kickoff this expansion, three partners – Fondy Food Pantry, Sheboygan County Food Bank, and FOCUS (Feeding Our Communities with United Services) Food Pantry – will each receive three dairy deliveries during the month of September, thanks to a generous donation from the Alliant Energy Foundation.

The first delivery will take place on Thursday, September 11 at the Fondy Food Pantry in Fond du Lac, where Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin staff and volunteers will deliver Wisconsin-produced milk, butter, and yogurt to pantry guests, helping families access perishable foods they might otherwise go without. Local vendors helping to provide these products include Pine River Dairy, Kemps, and Klondike Cheese Company.

“For many families visiting our local food pantries, dairy products are a rare and valuable find,” said Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin President and CEO, Patti Habeck. “With the Alliant Energy Foundation’s wonderful support, we’re now able to bring more fresh, nutritious options to more of the communities we serve – rural and urban alike – on a scale we couldn’t reach during our pilot. This program is helping to close a critical nutrition gap with products that are made right here in Wisconsin.”

Food pantries across Eastern Wisconsin face steep challenges when it comes to dairy. Unlike shelf-stable items, dairy products are expensive, require cold storage, and have a short shelf life. Many pantries simply lack the infrastructure or funding to keep dairy in stock. With inflation continuing to drive up prices at grocery stores – milk alone has seen a cost increase of up to 75 cents per gallon since 2020 – low-income families are often forced to go without or sacrifice the purchase of other staple items. Beyond its nutritional value, dairy is a staple that many families rely on in their daily meals. Providing items like milk, cheese, and eggs allows families to cook familiar recipes, nourish their children, and make choices that feel normal, something that many of us take for granted, but that deeply impact a person’s dignity and well-being.

“The Alliant Energy Foundation is proud to support our partners who work to combat food insecurity every day,” said Steve Schooff, director corporate communications, Alliant Energy and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Board Member. “The opportunity to expand dairy product deliveries creates a direct impact for these rural communities we serve and helps us carry out our mission to serve customers.”

During the program’s pilot in Fall of 2024, Dairyland Delivery provided dairy products to more than a dozen pantry partners in Greater Milwaukee, reaching over 600 families in just one month. With the Alliant Energy Foundation’s support, the 2025 program now includes recurring deliveries across three counties, reaching communities multiple times each month and extending into the rural communities Alliant Energy serves.

This year’s first delivery site, Fondy Food Pantry, which serves hundreds of families each month, was selected for the program based on its location within Alliant Energy’s service area and its demonstrated need for fresh, perishable food. Their participation reflects the strong local demand for nutritious options and highlights the common challenges many pantries face in sourcing and storing perishable food. Looking ahead, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin hopes to expand Dairyland Delivery even further, exploring partnerships with farmers, incorporating surplus dairy donations, and increasing the availability of shelf-stable options to meet growing demand.