Madison, WI — Wisconsin’s grocery industry remains essential in keeping families fed and communities strong especially during the first few weeks of November following brief uncertainty surrounding FoodShare (SNAP) funding. To clarify, FoodShare benefits remain active and fully usable at all authorized grocery stores across the state.
During this time, grocers across Wisconsin have taken extra steps to support families and provide certainty in access to nutritious food for people within their communities.
Below are just a few examples of how grocery stores in Wisconsin are stepping up to make a difference:
- Casey’s donated $100,000 to Feeding America to help address food insecurity and support families across the communities it serves.
- Dick’s Fresh Market organized a round-up campaign, allowing customers to round purchases to the nearest dollar, with proceeds going directly to local food pantries.
- Hy-Vee is offering free kids’ meals and $3 dinners until November 14 and selling $5 and $10 donation bundles to support local food pantries, part of a larger effort that includes $125,000 in recent donations.
- Lois Piggly Wiggly in Kenosha partnered with local businesses to assemble 500 meal kits for families in need.
- Meijer pledged $4 million through its Simply Give hunger relief program to support food banks across the Midwest, working with customers and partners to fight hunger locally.
- Pick ‘n Save and Metro Market in partnership with Kemps, donated 67,500 cartons of shelf-stable milk through the Giving Cow™ program to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, in addition to making several other food donations.
- Trig’s donated over $10,000 in gift cards to food pantries across northern Wisconsin to help meet community needs during this critical time.
Find more stories and updates on FoodShare for Wisconsin grocers at wisconsingrocers.com/FoodShare-SNAP/.
Additionally, with Thanksgiving approaching, many grocery stores across Wisconsin are emphasizing affordability. Piggly Wiggly, for example, has outlined a list of items that can feed a family of ten for under $40, helping ensure families can enjoy a holiday meal together without breaking their budgets.
The WGA also invites the media to see firsthand how local grocers are building stronger communities and stepping up through events like the “Battle of the Businesses” Food Drive at Campbell’s Piggly Wiggly in Brodhead.
The event is bringing together over 25 local businesses to help fill pantry shelves and meet the growing demand for food assistance.
“We have such a high demand in our community,” Angie Arn, owner of First Central Floral and Garden and one of the event organizers said, after witnessing the local food pantry close early due to overwhelming demand. Similarly, that was found with the school backpack program where food is distributed to families in need. “They have a high demand, and their budget hasn’t changed, yet they also need food.”
Wanting to make a difference, Arn and Kristel Reilly, branch manager of New Glarus Bank in Brodhead, partnered with local grocery store Campbell’s Piggly Wiggly to organize the event. Justin Campbell, an owner of the store, and his team are working to make the food drive fun and easy for shoppers to participate in, with dedicated displays, and carts for the businesses to have their donations in the parking lot.
The “Battle of the Businesses Food Drive” will take place Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Campbell’s Piggly Wiggly parking lot in Brodhead. Participating businesses will encourage community members to drop off food donations or shop in-store and contribute items directly.
This event is just one example of how Wisconsin grocers continue to step up to the moment, supporting their neighbors and strengthening the communities they serve.
Media are invited to attend. Please RSVP or coordinate coverage with Michelle Stangler, WGA Member Engagement Coordinator at mstangler@wisconsingrocers.com or 920-253-9892.
ABOUT THE WISCONSIN GROCERS ASSOCIATION (WGA)
The Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) is a non-profit trade association established in 1900 to represent independent grocers and grocery chains, warehouses and brokers, vendors, suppliers, and manufacturers before all levels of government. The WGA provides educational and networking opportunities, leadership training, public affairs, and compliance information for its membership.
WGA and its membership have significant economic impact in the state of Wisconsin. The WGA represents nearly 350 independent grocers with multiple locations across the state, more than 200 retail grocery chain stores, warehouses and distributors, convenience stores, food brokers and suppliers. Wisconsin grocers employ over 30,000 people with over $1 billion in payroll and generate more than $12 billion in annual sales in Wisconsin resulting in approximately $800 million in state sales tax revenue (data provided by The Food Institute).
