Food and Nutrition - Background

Food Pantry List | How to get assistance | Special Projects | Background

West CAP believes that addressing hunger requires a community effort. Our staff works closely with hunger prevention groups in each county – groups that meet regularly to discuss projects, review needs and problems and share ideas. We also network with groups around the state, and participate in a variety of program discussions with policy makers and legislators.

Local food assistance outlets operate The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in their community, and provide for distribution of USDA commodities. West CAP administers the TEFAP program, and assists these local outlets in ordering, documenting activities, and maintaining the Standards of Excellence required by federal and state regulations. Our staff also coordinates food and grocery purchases from the regional Second Harvest Food Bank, and assists local outlets in developing volunteers, sponsors and community donations.

In addition to providing support and coordination to various local outlets, West CAP operates the Glenwood City Area Food Pantry directly from our main office. This pantry serves the residents of the Glenwood City Area School District, including areas in Wilson, Hersey, Downing, and Emerald. Recipients of the pantry can receive an assortment of canned goods, cereals, meat, frozen foods, fruit and vegetables, as well an assortment of personal care items. The food package is designed to meet the family’s nutritional needs for a period of 3-5 days. The Glenwood City Pantry also partners with area churches, schools, businesses and community members to raise funds for the Pantry, and to provide Holiday Baskets.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program, which provides food assistance to low-income families through the distribution of food available from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). West CAP is one of seventeen organizations contracted by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services to coordinate the efficient distribution of TEFAP commodities to local outlets.

Overall, our Food & Nutrition Program helps to distribute over $500,000 in food in annually.

Local Need
A recent survey of recipients by the Dunn County Interfaith Food Pantry points out the importance that these products have for families in need. The survey showed that approximately 54% of food pantry assistance went to children. Over 73% of recipients reported that they needed help from the pantry at least 6-10 times each year, and 89% reported that their main reason for using the pantry was either that their income didn’t stretch far enough to meet family food needs or that there was just simply not enough food at home to feed their family. It is worth noting that 39% of pantry recipients worked full-time and 21% worked part-time. Most of the other recipients (32%) were either disabled or retired.

West CAP delivery to a local food pantry.