APPLETON, Wis (NBC 26) -- Following months of layoffs and business closures, food pantries across northeast Wisconsin are experiencing an increase in demand from families needing food. Tonight, we hear from organizers of the largest hunger-relief network in Wisconsin, to find out how serious the situation has become.
Since the pandemic began Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has increased the amount of food shipped to local pantries by 67 percent.
"We're distributing at the moment about 36 million pounds of food a year. And we know that we're likely going to have to increase that," says Patti Habeck the CEO of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.
Habeck says with fewer jobs available right now and many leaning on food pantries to help put food on the table, they are shipping millions of additional pounds of food to local pantries to help meet their community's needs.
"It's something they have come to rely on."
Habeck estimates that hundreds of thousands of new people from northeast Wisconsin are utilizing food pantries compared to just six months ago. But she also believes that not everyone who could use the aid is reaching out.
"It's very important that they realize there are resources out there and they do have to make sure they are doing some sort of outreach, so somebody knows they are out there and looking for help."
Habeck says the easiest way to find out about free resources near you is to call the United Way at 2-1-1. She says they can help you line up with free groceries and in many cases allow folks the chance to avoid the grocery store and crowds.
"Certainly during the pandemic when everything is disrupted it's making it even more difficult for families to find the resources."
And while food pantry operators we spoke with on Monday say they are continuing to meet the needs of their customers, Habeck says unfortunately many food pantries should prepare for the demand to remain at current levels for potentially years to come.
"It is concerning, it's a major problem, and it's something we're going to be living with for a long time. Hunger relief is going to be a lagging recovery."
Monetary donations and volunteer hours help Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin continue to help out food pantries across our region.
If you would like to find local food pantries, we have included a list of Brown County food pantries here.
For those outside of Brown county, here is a searching tool for additional food pantries across Wisconsin.
If you are looking for aid now, dial the United Way at 2-1-1 for additional resources for food assistance.
