Dane County would add $1.7 million in funding for food, as local pantries struggle to keep up with surging demand ahead of the holidays, under a recent proposal from County Executive Joe Parisi and a number of County Board supervisors. The local officials made the announcement at The River Food Pantry, one of the largest providers of food assistance in the county.
The additional funds would go to bolster the county’s “Farm to Foodbank” program, which was created during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to get fresh, home grown produce onto the kitchen tables of the increasing numbers of families in need.
The Dane County Board recently adopted the 2024 county budget and included about $4.5 million for the program. The executive originally proposed $6 million for that emergency food supply, and the $1.7 million resolution being introduced this week will restore funding past its original level.
The additional $1.7 million comes from unallocated federal dollars provided to Dane County from the 2021 American Rescue Plan. Supervisor Ratcliff’s resolution was introduced at the Dane County Board meeting last Thursday evening, with review and action expected by the full board in the next couple of weeks.
