Madison, Wis. — Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin today announced it is providing access to $600,000 in grant funding to its network of partner food pantries and programs throughout southwestern Wisconsin. Through the “Retail Capacity Grant,” funding will be awarded to support partner agencies in increasing the infrastructure, equipment, staffing, and operational capacity needed to acquire, store and distribute more food from local retailers like grocers and convenience stores.
The Retail Capacity Grant is part of Second Harvest’s Wisconsin Food Rescue initiative. It illustrates the organization’s commitment to rescuing fresh, healthy food and providing it to families facing hunger throughout southwestern Wisconsin.
Food donations from local retailers play a vital role in the emergency food system. In many cases, the barrier is not whether retailers have food to donate, but whether pantries have the staff, equipment, refrigeration, storage, and transportation needed to accept and distribute it. By increasing agency capacity, the grants will equip them to recover more food and reach more people.
“Second Harvest is committed to ensuring every person in our community has dependable access to healthy food,” said Michelle Orge, President and Executive Director of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. “By making these grant funds available, we are investing directly in the local organizations that know their communities best and are addressing hunger every day. This funding will help our partners respond to rising demand while building capacity for the future.”
Second Harvest works with a network of nearly 300 food pantries and programs across southwestern Wisconsin, each providing essential food assistance and services tailored to the communities they serve. With demand for food assistance remaining elevated due to economic pressures, inflation, and ongoing household challenges, this funding comes at a critical time.
Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000, with funds anticipated to be available in September 2026. Projects that may be eligible for a grant must directly support the ability to accept and distribute more food donations from local retailers. Examples include:
- Cold storage expansion
- Refrigerated trailers and/or vehicles
- Food safety equipment
- Loading and storage infrastructure
- Limited-term employment staffing support related to capacity expansion, which helps grow retail recovery work
- Equipment that increases retail pickup efficiency or capacity
The goals of the “Retail Capacity Grant” include:
- Increase retail food donations across the Second Harvest network
- Expand retail food recovery infrastructure in rural and underserved communities
- Increase the operational capacity of agency retail pickup programs
- Strengthen engagement with local and ethnic grocers
- Improve data quality, coordination, and operational visibility
Second Harvest distributes millions of pounds of food each year and partners with local organizations to provide equitable access to nutritious food across a 16-county region. Initiatives like this grant program are a key part of the organization’s strategy to not only meet immediate needs but also strengthen the long-term resilience of the hunger-relief network.
For more information about the Wisconsin Food Rescue initiative, visit www.secondharvestsw.org/foodrescue.
About Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Since 1986, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin has been working with hundreds of local agencies and partners across 16 counties. We are southwestern Wisconsin’s largest hunger-relief organization, distributing tens of millions of pounds of food each year. Through food acquisition and distribution, advocacy, community partnerships, and the support of thousands of volunteers, we are making our vision of ensuring everyone in our community has access to enough nutritious food to thrive a reality. For more information, visit SecondHarvestSW.org.
