Would you walk past a $20 bill lying on the ground? Worse yet, would you advise your clients to do so?
Being eligible for FoodShare Wisconsin but not taking advantage of it is a lot like walking past $20 or more month after month after month. Many individuals and families are struggling to make ends meet these days. They’re making choices every month between buying food and paying for their housing, medications, utilities, child care and other bills. You’re already helping some who come to your site, but do you know that many are eligible to receive FoodShare which allows them to go to the grocery store and purchase items of their own choice, food that they may not be able to access otherwise?
And there’s something else great about receiving FoodShare: everyone in your community wins. Your clients can put more healthy, nutritious food of their own choice on the table while relieving stress on your site and on the people who are worrying whether they have enough to eat. Even the local economy where your FoodShare dollars are spent benefits! The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that for every $5 spent in FoodShare benefits, $9 circulates through local businesses and to our farmers. These days, no community can afford to turn away resources.
Before assuming someone isn’t eligible for FoodShare benefits, do you know…
You can play a critical role making sure your clients receive benefits they need and are eligible for – and Second Harvest’s FoodShare Outreach team can help you!
How We Help Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin partners with the State of Wisconsin, Department of Health Services with the goal of successfully assisting a significant number of potentially eligible families and individuals gain FoodShare benefits.
Direct Application Assistance Our team of fully-trained mobile FoodShare Outreach Specialists offer assistance at a variety of convenient community locations. They're equipped with laptop computers with wireless internet connectivity and printers/copiers, and can provide bi-lingual accommodation to assist persons with limited English proficiency. They can offer these services at your site or at another easily-accessible location in your community:
To schedule a Second Harvest FoodShare Outreach Specialist to come to your site, contact Michelle Kramer, FoodShare Outreach Manager, at 608-216-7223 or michellek@shfbmadison.org.
FoodShare Helpline: 877-FOOD-635 (877-366-3635) Callers to Second Harvest’s FoodShare Helpline speak to trained volunteers trained who provide friendly assistance with the following services:
Results of the eligibility screening are mailed to callers with personalized letters and the list of documents to bring when receiving in-person application assistance. Those with scheduled appointments also receive reminder phone calls 24 hours in advance.
In Wisconsin, it is estimated that only 67 percent of eligible individuals take advantage of FoodShare benefits. Many of those who can use a little help with groceries have paid into the system for years. Now is the time to make sure that safety net work is working for our neighbors facing hunger. Don’t let those coming to you for help miss out on this benefit that puts food on the table and brings back some of our tax dollars to help your community.
Become A Host Site Are you ready to become a FoodShare Outreach host site? There are tips below but most importantly, we're here to help. Contact Michelle Kramer, FoodShare Outreach Manager, at 608-216-7223 or michellek@shfbmadison.org to get started today!
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