Announcing a New Advocacy and Outreach Department

Published On: January 29th, 2021Categories: Advocacy, Post, Resources

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is pleased to announce an exciting new step in our efforts to provide wholesome food to families and individuals facing hunger. We are adding an Advocacy & Outreach Department that will focus on government commodities.

This new department is part of our growing commitment to participate in state and federal food assistance programs to help us serve and support more members of our community. The Advocacy & Outreach Department will build on the existing government relationships and partnerships to enhance and create new opportunities for our commodities programs. The department will also work to grow our FoodShare (SNAP) Outreach program in our southern Wisconsin region.

Establishing the Advocacy & Outreach Department is further demonstration of our commitment to the communities we serve and to the health and wellbeing of our neighbors.

A timeline of our participation state and federal food assistance programs:

2015 – Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin launches FoodShare Outreach Program, breaking down barriers for individuals accessing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program).

2019 – Begin participating in Trade Mitigation Program (TMP) to distribute high-quality government-purchased food from local farms to pantries serving our community.

2019 – Started first permanent government contract to access The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income individuals by providing them with 100% American-grown USDA Foods, and the opportunity for grants to help build capacity at the food bank and pantry level.

2020 – Receive Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) support to address food supply and delivery challenges brought on by the increased need during the coronavirus pandemic. Resources obtained are distributed to member pantries as well as tribes and non-members.

2020 – Work with the USDA to distribute Farmers to Families Food Boxes through the Coronavirus Emergency Food Assistance Program (CFAP), providing nearly half a million boxes to our communities in just 10 months.

 2021 – Launch advocacy and outreach departments to strengthen Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s impact and relationships on the federal, state, and local levels of government to grow existing avenues of support and identify new opportunities.

Administer the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funding to obtain food, lodging, and equipment needed to provide food and shelter to those in need on behalf of four Northern Wisconsin counties.