OUR NEXT GUEST OVERSEES THE
LARGEST HUNGER RELIEF
ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE,
SERVING MORE THAN 4,000 PEOPLE.
PATTI HABECK IS PRESIDENT OF
FEEDING AMERICA.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW
WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING FOOD
INSECURITY IN WISCONSIN?
>> WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS.
THE NEED IS GREAT AND IT STILL
IS GROWING TO SOME EXTENT.
AND RELIEF RIGHT NOW IS A TOUGH
PLACE TO WORK.
40% OF THE PEOPLE VISITING FOOD
PANTRIES HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE
HUNGER RELIEF SYSTEM BEFORE,
ADDING AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF
STRESS FOR FAMILIES.
>> SO WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE KIND OF NEWLY REACHING OUT?
>> SO A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO
EITHER LOST THEIR EMPLOYMENT OR
FOR HEALTH REASONS ARE UNABLE TO
WORK.
IT'S FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN IN
THE SYSTEM WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
EXTENDED OR MORE CHALLENGES IN
THEIR FAMILIES.
IT MIGHT BE FAMILIES WHO HAVE
COLLEGE KIDS WHO HAVE RETURNED
HOME OR FAMILIES WHO HAVE YOUNG
CHILDREN WHO RELY ON THE SCHOOL
SYSTEM FOR FOOD AND NOW HAVE
MORE PRESSURE ON THEIR
HOUSEHOLD.
>> IT'S HARD FOR EVERYONE NEWLY
REACHING OUT OR THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN DOING THAT ALL ALONG AND
HAVE NEW NEEDS.
BUT IS IT RURAL AND URBAN AND
EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE TERRITORY THAT WE COVER HAS
URBAN AREAS IN SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN AS WELL AS THE RURAL
AREAS AND EVEN SMALL METRO
AREAS.
AND WHAT I'VE SEEN WHEN I GO OUT
IN COMMUNITY IS HUNGER LOOKS
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN AN URBAN
AREA VERSUS RURAL, BUT THE
ISSUES ARE THE SAME.
FAMILIES ARE FACING REALLY
CHALLENGING TIMES NO MATTER
WHERE YOU ARE.
RESOURCES ARE SLIM.
AND SO OUR WORK IS NECESSARY.
AND THE WORK OF THE NETWORK OF
FOOD PANTRIES IS MORE NECESSARY
NOW THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN.
>> I KNOW A TOTAL OF SOMETHING
LIKE $75 MILLION HAS COME
THROUGH THE STATE AND DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE TO HELP.
IS THIS ENOUGH TO MEET DEMAND?
>> IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
ASSISTANCE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD HAVE
DONE IF THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HADN'T COME UP WITH
SOME DOLLARS TO HELP AND ASSIST
IN THE HUNGER RELIEF.
BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND
THAT IT'S STILL ONLY A PORTION
OF WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED.
WE STILL RELY ON MANY FACTORS
AND GROWERS AND GROCERS AND
RETAILERS TO FILL THE GAP.
FOOD IS A CONSUMABLE COMMODITY.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING TO
PROVIDE THAT NUTRITIOUS FOOD,
PARTICULARLY DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
NUTRITION MATTERS.
IT MATTERS ALL THE TIME, BUT
PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE REALLY WORKING TO GET THAT
HIGH NUTRITION, DENSE FOOD OUT
INTO THE FAMILIES.
>> SO WHAT KIND OF FOOD CAN BE
PRODUCED FROM PRODUCERS TO SHOCK
THE SHELVES OF -- STOCK THE
SHELVES OF A PANTRY?
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE PUSHING FOR
FRESH PRODUCE.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE
BIGGEST PRODUCTS, BEST PRODUCTS
THAT WE CAN GET OUT THERE.
PROTEINS, SO THINGS LIKE MEATS
AND PEANUT BUTTER AND NUTS AND
GRAINS.
ALSO DAIRY PRODUCTS.
WE'VE BEEN PUSHING IN THOSE
THREE CATEGORIES.
BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO WORK ON
SHELF STABLE ITEMS BECAUSE SOME
HOUSEHOLDS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
PREPARE FOODS, SO EASY TO HEAT
UP SOUPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT
HAVE BEEN REALLY NEEDED RIGHT
NOW.
>> JUST BRIEFLY, WHAT MORE NEEDS
TO BE DONE TO HELP FILL THIS
DEMAND?
>> THE FIRST THING WE ALWAYS SAY
IS REALLY IS NECESSARY TO BRING
THESE COVID NUMBERS DOWN.
STARTING INYOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD,
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD.
THEN WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THE
SYSTEM HEALTHY AND REACH OUT.
BEYOND THAT, WE ALWAYS SAY FOOD,
FUN AND FRIENDS.
IF YOU CAN DONATE TIME TO
VOLUNTEER AND FUNDS TO SUPPORT
OUR PURCHASING PROGRAMS RIGHT
NOW, THAT WOULD BE REALLY
NECESSARY.
>> PATTI