News
USDA Awards Grants to Improve Reach and Resiliency of Emergency Food System
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service today awarded over $39 million in grants to 38 state agencies to improve the Emergency Food Assistance Program, commonly known as TEFAP, reach into remote, rural, tribal, and/or low-income areas that are underserved by the program. Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services (DHS) plans to utilize over $700,000 in Reach and Resiliency grant funds to: (1) complete a detailed assessment of TEFAP reach that will identify remote, rural, tribal, and low-income areas underserved by the program, (2) build training and technical assistance capacity of statewide partners to conduct outreach to and to qualify new TEFAP outlets, and (3) provide technical and infrastructure assistance to at least 20 emergency food providers that will serve as new TEFAP outlets in remote, rural, tribal, and/or low-income areas. The state agency will provide sub-grants to the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association and the Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension to complete specific parts of the project plan.
USDA Announces Framework for Shoring Up the Food Supply Chain and Transforming the Food System to Be Fairer, More Competitive, More Resilient
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing details of a framework to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new, more, and better markets for small and mid-size producers. Today’s announcement builds on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. This announcement also provides additional details on the June 2021 announcement to strengthen critical supply chains and address longstanding structural challenges that were revealed and intensified by the pandemic.
DHS Urges FoodShare Members to Protect Themselves from Fraud
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is actively investigating several reports from FoodShare members about compromised QUEST card benefits, and urges all members to take action now to protect themselves against fraud.
SNAP “Program Integrity:” How Racialized Fraud Provisions Criminalize Hunger
Health care, food, secure housing, and a livable wage are basic human needs. And seeking the help you need to succeed is a statement of human dignity and justice. However, coded language, dog-whistling, and racist stereotypes have reinforced the lie that folks receiving public benefits are exaggerating how poor they really are and that they are likely committing fraud.
Hunger Next Door photo exhibit continues tour through Wisconsin communities
Hunger Next Door is a Hunger Task Force photo project that illustrates the reality of hunger in our community. While the project debuted back in 2014, the photo exhibit has been brought to various locations over the last seven years and has been seen by countless community members, students, civic leaders, legislators and anti-hunger partners along the way.
Families with Children Who Did Not Receive Free or Reduced Price Meals at School Due to COVID-19 to Receive Food Benefits
Federal changes make 2021-2022 program different from previous years
Gov. Evers, Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection: Announce $30 million investment in food pantry network
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today, together with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), announced a yearlong investment of $30 million in the state’s two largest hunger relief organizations. This announcement brings the...
First Case of Omicron Variant Identified in Wisconsin
Food insecurity persists, forcing community organizers to act: The Brotherhood Sister Sol has taken matters into its own hand
As families gather across the country to celebrate Thanksgiving and give thanks, many are struggling to fill their kitchens with fresh food and groceries. The U.S. has made virtually no progress toward solving this issue of food insecurity in the last two...
USDA Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative
The USDA Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative (PDF, 86.4 KB) promotes traditional food ways, Indian Country food and agriculture markets, and indigenous health through foods tailored to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) dietary needs