Food insecurity in Dane County is real. Nearly 13% of kids in Dane County were food insecure in 2022, up from 7.5% in 2021. Those most affected are children, seniors, the disabled, and people of color. In over 70% of food insecure households, at least one adult is working. Many have two jobs.
Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN) in Verona – one of the area’s largest food pantries -- is working hard to address this meal gap. The pantry expects to serve 90,000 individuals this year, six times more than pre-pandemic. The increase in visits can be attributed to rising housing costs, food inflation and population growth. On a busy Thursday, BPNN will serve 200 families.
In operation since 1986, BPNN is 100% volunteer led and operated, meaning everyone from pantry support staff to operational directors are volunteers. All donations, whether monetary or in-kind, go to feed people and provide social services to those in need.
Solving food insecurity does not have a quick or easy fix. However, there are immediate actions that community members can take to help pantries like BPNN keep up with the growing demand. Workplace and neighborhood food drives help keep the pantry stocked with its most needed items.
As an all-volunteer organization, there are a variety of opportunities to pitch in and get involved from working in the pantry to serving lunch at a Community Meal. New Volunteer Orientations are held on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Financial gifts and donations go directly to purchase food and keeping the lights on. Learn more about Badger Prairie Needs Network and how you can help fight poverty and end hunger in Dane County at www.bpnn.org.
