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Local food bank reports surge as SNAP disruption leaves gaps; city mobilizes volunteers and drop‑off sites
Summary
WayForward Resources told the Middleton Common Council that SNAP interruptions have driven record demand: 20 new households registered on one day and 10,000 pounds of food were distributed. The city and partners set up a community drive, additional volunteer hours and 24/7 drop‑off at the police station.
WayForward Resources reported overwhelming demand at Middleton’s food pantry during a community‑wide drive prompted by an interruption to SNAP benefits.
Ellen Carlson, executive director of WayForward Resources, told the council that last week’s food drive led to record volume: 20 new households registered on a single day and the pantry distributed about 10,000 pounds of food. "Today, we had 20 new households register to use the food pantry, and we gave out 10,000 pounds of food," Carlson said, and warned that even if federal SNAP funding is resolved, it may take weeks for benefits to appear on recipients’ cards.
City partners and community groups — including the school district, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Middleton Business Association, and WayForward — issued a joint statement and organized additional drop‑off locations and hours, police‑station 24/7 donation bins, and volunteer mobilization. Leslie Albrecht Huber of WayForward said staff have added volunteer shifts and extra evening drop‑off hours to handle the surge.
Why it matters: WayForward emphasized the crisis will likely be prolonged and requested continued donations and outreach so residents know the pantry is available. The council thanked WayForward, announced city staff and council donations, and asked staff to circulate more information to residents.
Follow up: WayForward said it would email council members with more details and resource links; council members asked staff to help publicize pantry procedures so new users are comfortable registering.
