MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – A total of 12 food pantries and programs across southwestern Wisconsin will have the ability to store more food for longer durations of time thanks to a grant from the Second Harvest Food Bank.
The Retail Capacity Grant, totaling $600,000, will help these organizations buy resources to better store, keep and distribute the food they receive.
Outreach, the LGBTQ+ community center in Madison, is one of the recipients.
Outreach said food insecurity can be compounded by discrimination, so it matters that people can access food in a place where they know they can be respected.
Chez Dickson, the director of development at Outreach, said this money will go towards extra refrigeration.
“Cold storage may sound like a simple infrastructure investment, but for the people we serve, its impact is much more tangible,” Dickson said. “More fresh food, more choices, reliable access to basic needs in a place where they know they’re welcome.”
Dickson said this grant money comes at an opportune time for outreach, as they’re planning a move closer to downtown Madison to make their community center more accessible.
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