'Foods, funds and friends:' Wisconsin food pantries seek holiday support

<h2><br></h2> <p>Wisconsin's food charities are preparing for a possible spike in demand heading into the holiday season.<br> <br> From the end of federal pandemic aid measures to ongoing supply chain disruptions, Stephanie Dorfman, executive director of <a href="https://www.feedingwi.org/" target="_blank">Feeding Wisconsin</a>, said organizations like hers are balancing several factors this year.<br> <br> Feeding Wisconsin coordinates six regional food banks across the state, and distributed 86 million pounds of food during the 2021 fiscal year, up 75% from 2019.<br> <br> "Our food banks across the state are always in need of food, funds and friends," said Dorfman.<br> <br> <a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/press-room/local-food-insecurity-projections" target="_blank">A March 2021 report from Feeding America</a>, Feeding Wisconsin's parent organization, predicted more than 10% of Wisconsinites, or about 606,000 people, would experience food insecurity this year. That's slightly better than the national average of nearly 13%.<br> <br> As local food pantries work to address food insecurity, Nancy Renkes - executive director of the <a href="https://www.fmpfoodbank.org/" target="_blank">Feed my People Food Bank</a> in Eau Claire - said these organizations typically prefer cash donations, which allow them more flexibility when stocking their shelves.<br> <br> "So, it absolutely is much more beneficial to hungry people if we can have people make a financial donation versus a food donation," said Renkes, "unless it's food that would otherwise end up in the landfill."<br> <br> According to its website, Feed my People distributes more than 8.3 million pounds of food annually to 14 counties in western Wisconsin.<br> <br> While it isn't a major concern yet, Renkes added, supply chain disruptions have made getting food to pantries more difficult in recent weeks.<br> <br> "We're feeling the impact in really just a couple of different ways," said Renkes, "and we're cautiously optimistic that it won't become a h