The FOOD Pantry at Mid-Year: Rising to Meet the Need
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve already reached the halfway point of 2025. This milestone offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on what we’ve accomplished so far and where we’re headed in the months ahead.
Client Services
We continue to see a steady increase in the number of individuals and families we serve. As illustrated in the graphs above, data from January through June shows growth in both the number of unique clients and total pantry visits. While we are grateful for the opportunity to support more members of our community, this upward trend also highlights a growing concern: food insecurity is affecting more of our neighbors than ever before.
Food Sourcing
The FOOD Pantry’s fiscal year runs from October through September, aligning with the federal fiscal calendar. For consistency in reporting, the following comparisons reflect our fiscal year-to-date data within that timeframe:
- Total Food Distribution: Combining all food donations and purchases, we have distributed over $4 million worth of food to the community this year. That is an 8% decrease from the previous year's $4.4 million total.
- Community Donations: Contributions from local food drives and individual donors have increased by approximately 8%, from $436,800 FY2024 to $471,500 in FY2025. We are actively encouraging food drives as a meaningful way to support our mission. If you're interested in organizing one, please reach out to Jeremy@waukeshafoodpantry.org.
- Food Recovery: Donations from grocery store partners have increased by about 3%, from $1,688,800 in FY2024 to $1,741,200 in FY2025.
- TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program): This USDA-administered program has seen a significant reduction in support, with a 12% decrease in food received—down from $1.1 million in USDA food in FY2024 to $985,000 in FY2025. We anticipate continued reductions in this area based on information provided to the Pantry.
- Purchased Food: To meet rising demand and offset declines in other sources, our food purchasing has increased to $241,000 in FY2025. This investment is essential to ensure consistent access to nutritious food for our clients.
Volunteers: The Heart of Our Mission
Our volunteers are the backbone of The FOOD Pantry. From greeting clients and sorting donations to collecting food from partners, their dedication makes our work possible.
So far in 2025, we’ve seen a slight decline in daily volunteer participation—from 360 individuals in 2024 to 315 this year—resulting in a reduction of total volunteer hours from 13,461 to 12,850. However, we’ve welcomed an increase in group volunteer efforts. To date, 28 groups comprising 381 individuals have contributed nearly 1,000 hours through special projects.
How You Can Help
We invite you to join us in supporting our community in the following ways:
- Host a Food Drive: Rally your friends, neighbors, or coworkers to organize a food drive. We provide collection barrels and can assist with logistics. Creativity and enthusiasm go a long way to making your drive a success and summer is an ideal time to host a drive as demand is high. Contact Jeremy@waukeshafoodpantry.org to set up your event.
- Donate Fresh Produce: If you have a garden, consider donating your surplus. Many of our clients rely on these contributions for access to fresh, healthy food.
- Make a Financial Contribution: Monetary donations help us purchase food to fill critical gaps. Your support ensures that no one in our community goes hungry.
- Volunteer: Whether you’re available once a week or once a month, your time makes a difference to our organization. If you are interested in joining a great group of volunteers and staff, please contact volunteer@waukeshafoodpantry.org.
Thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Tags in this Post: News , Programs
Back to Blog