to decertify Wisconsin's 2020 election results. Starting in
October, 265 emergency pantries in Wisconsin that accept
donations from the Federal Emergency Food Assistance
Program can no longer ask visitors to verify their address
in order to access free food. This new state rule comes as
food pantries are seeing an explosion in need, and such
verification can be a barrier to access. But could it also result
in shortages at popular locations like the Oshkosh Area
Community Pantry that saw a 70% increase in usage last year? We
ask its executive director, Ryan Rasmussen, and thanks very much
for being here. Pleasure to be here.
>> So, as we've said, your pantry has seen a major surge in
demand in the last few years. How related is that surge to the
end of extra food share benefits available during the Covid
pandemic? >> Absolutely. Extremely
last year around the March time frame, right when food share
benefits were starting to go back to pre-pandemic levels and
at the exact same time that that was happening, we were also
seeing inflation at the highest we've seen in a long time. Food
prices were skyrocketing, groceries and gas, everything
was just through the roof. So all of it culminated in a really
perfect storm of a lot of expensive things and folks
needing some additional help. >> So your location also
operates more like a regular grocery store where people can
choose the food they need or want. How much does that
influence its popularity? Do you think?
>> I think we're extremely popular because of that. We are
firm believers in in the dignity and respect of all of our
guests. And so we truly believe that there's power in choice.
And so we believe through that choice, folks retain their
dignity. And so rather than getting a pre-loaded box of
food, folks are able to come shop our aisles just like they
would any other grocery store. Really providing a dignified
shopping experience as opposed to a pre-loaded box of food. And
so for us, we're extremely popular because of that model,
because folks are able to shop like us, shop, shop with us like
anybody else. >> So in fact, you see hundreds
of people from outside your county visiting your pantry. Can
can you keep up with that demand ?
be interesting, especially as we talk about the new Tefap
regulations that are coming in. I certainly agree that, you
know, creating a barrier free opportunity for guests is super
important, and we value that. And we believe that also. But I
think there's some logistical concerns that we really need to
think through in order to make this happen. And obviously
ensuring that, you know, there's plenty of food to go around all
the pantries that need it is one of them. And I think one of the
things we'll have to look at is how can we redistribute that
food in a food system where food is available, you can get it,
but how can we allocate it? The right way to the pantries that
need it, that are seeing some major increases?
>> So that's what you mean when you talk about the logistical
challenges, potentially like moving it from out of your
county into another. >> Yeah, exactly. And some of
the other pieces that we have to think about too is with these
regulations, you know, without being able to verify proof of
address for pantries that have service areas like we do at and
throughout the state, there's I assume a lot of other pantries
we're thinking about having to, really a couple of ways that
We'll either have to separate to distribute this product.
the inventory or we're going to have to reduce and eliminate the
service areas. And so with that comes a lot of logistical
pieces, especially in our store to model that we have where, you
know, being set up like a grocery store, having multiple
programs in that store could create some additional confusion
for our guests, because how much of the food in your pantry comes
from the Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program? Yeah, right
now it's about anywhere from 15 to 20% of the overall food that
we get. And so although that percentage doesn't seem really
high, the actual quantity and the quality of the food that
we're getting is fantastic, we're taking advantage of a milk
program where we're able to get, direct to farmer to pantry milk,
for free, a lot of produce comes from, from the Tefap program, as
well as some of the high protein rich foods that we look for in
canned goods. So although the overall quantity isn't huge, the
quality of it is really good. So it's something we wouldn't want
to sacrifice. >> Losing how has the clientele
of your pantry changed over the past several years?
>> Yeah, we certainly have seen, and a lot of pantries experience
this. The age demographic for pantry users is generally skews
a little older, and we've seen that age demographic come down
quite significantly for us, especially as we were talking
about when food share benefits were rolled back, you know, we
were seeing a lot of middle income folks who generally were
on the bubble before where they made too much to qualify for
services, but but not enough to make ends meet are the ones that
are really now the ones that are being affected by what's
happening. And so all that does is we're seeing a lot more
families. We're seeing a lot more children, we're seeing a
lot more of that younger demographic of folks that are
coming in who are needing the extra help.