With grocery costs climbing and federal food stamp programs facing upwards of $88 billion in cuts over the next 10 years, more households find themselves struggling to put food on the table. Across Northeast Wisconsin, several grassroots initiatives have emerged at this critical moment.
This includes community fridges, such as The Fridge in Green Bay and Hope Fridge in Menasha and Oshkosh, that are stocked with donated food items for any community member in need.
The speed at which these refrigerators empty tells us everything about hunger in our region. Wisconsin Public Radio reported that food often disappears within hours, sometimes minutes, of being stocked.
I’ve been touched by the number of small businesses and individuals I’ve seen installing free-standing pantries in their yards and at their businesses. Their “take what you need, leave what you can” philosophy puts focus on mutual aid rather than one-way assistance. There’s no paperwork, no requirements, no questions.
A now-famous Fred Rogers quote that often makes the social media rounds at times of crisis seems applicable once again:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”
The beloved host of PBS’ Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood wasn’t speaking specifically about our Northeast Wisconsin region, but he sure could have been.
To be clear, these grassroots efforts complement, rather than replace, the vital work of established food banks and nonprofits addressing hunger in our region.
But as economic pressures intensify, we can debate policy while families go hungry, or we can act. These community food initiatives demonstrate a powerful truth — when institutions fall short, neighbors can step forward.
