MADISON, Wis. — Dane County will sign a $5 million agreement with Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin to continue supporting a program that has connected local growers with food pantries.
Funding for the emergency food pandemic response program was originally slated to expire at the end of the year, but the extension ensures the effort will run through July 31, 2021.
“The combination of this pandemic and a Wisconsin winter is daunting but thanks to our partnership with Second Harvest and Dane County’s growers, we are going to meet this challenge the way we have addressed other hardships brought about by this pandemic – bringing people together with practical solutions,” Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said in a statement. “This partnership not only keeps locally raised produce, meats, cheese, and milk on the shelves of our food pantries it helps our local growers who like others are struggling economically due to Covid-19.”
The program launched in April and has ensured shelves at food pantries are stocked with nutritious meals for families in need.
“This funding extension could not have come at a better time,” said Second Harvest President and CEO Michelle Orge. “Unfortunately, for our neighbors struggling to put food on their table, their struggles will continue for many months to come; this new round of funding is a key part of our overall strategy to meet that long-term need.”
The Dane County Board will review the agreement after the holidays and is likely to be approved in the coming weeks.
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