Gov. Evers, DATCP Announce $10 Million Investment in Food Security Initiative
Gov. Evers, DATCP Announce $10 Million Investment in Food Security Initiative
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin will receive more than $3 million in funding
MILWAUKEE, WI (October 20, 2022) – Gov. Tony Evers announced a $10 million investment in Wisconsin’s two largest hunger-relief networks, on Thursday. The investment was made in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
Funding was made possible through the American Rescue Plan.
“Across the board we are hearing from pantries that the current need is higher than they experienced at the peak of the Covid pandemic,” said Patti Habeck, President and CEO of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “This funding will go a long way to ensure our neighbors don’t have to worry. We are grateful to the Governor and DATCP for this support.”
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the largest food bank in the state. Food purchased by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin through this initiative will stock nearly 400 pantries and meal sites. All donations and funding to our organization stay local and help feed more than 500,000 Wisconsinites annually.
“Today’s announcement recognizes Wisconsin’s place as an agricultural leader and our obligation to fight food insecurity together,” said Gov. Evers. “The Food Security Initiative has allowed us to strengthen relationships between local producers, processors, pantry networks, and residents as we ensure that families have food to put on the table at the end of a long day. I look forward to continuing to work to eliminate food insecurity in rural communities, urban centers, Tribal Nations, and homes across Wisconsin.”
Currently, across eastern Wisconsin, one-in-six children don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and the overall food insecurity rate is nearly nine percent.
Media interested in covering this news announcement, or looking to speak with a local expert, should contact Tony Cartagena, Public Relations and Communications Coordinator of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. (TCartagena@FeedingAmericaWI.org
About Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin:
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the leading hunger relief organization in the state with locations in Milwaukee and the Fox Valley. Founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a local and independent member of the Feeding America network. Driven by our mission to solve hunger and our vision of a hunger free Wisconsin, we are bringing more people together around the table to collaboratively address the root causes of hunger. Together with our 400+ member organizations, we serve nearly 500,000 people across 35 counties in eastern Wisconsin each year, including 124,000 children and 41,000 seniors.
