City of Madison Funds Organizations Meeting Community Food Access and Security Needs During COVID-19

On April 21, 2020 the City of Madison Common Council approved $50,000 in funding for 13 community-based organizations working to alleviate food security and access issues for residents dealing with the economic fallout of COVID-19. The Madison Food Policy Council adapted the original SEED Grants program, which historically funds food education and access projects in the City, and created a COVID-19 funding application to assist organizations implementing programs to serve residents affected by COVID-19.

Thirteen proposals were funded, spanning communities across the City and providing much needed resources to organizations that are working tirelessly to serve the City’s most vulnerable residents.

Funding was awarded to the following organizations:

Grocery Boxes and FoodBridge Grocery Support, The River Food Pantry, Inc.

• Up to $5,000 to fund grocery boxes and FoodBridge Program packages (for seniors)
• Serves all of Dane County (Based in Alder District 12)

Local Meal and Produce Delivery: Connecting the Northside to its Community Farm, Rooted WI, Inc.

• Up to $4,500 to fund staff time, meal and delivery costs for home-delivered meals and food boxes using local produce
• Alder District 12

Providing Meals to Elders during COVID-19 Emergency, Independent Living, Inc.

• Up to $4,500 to fund home-delivered "Meals on Wheels" meals and staff time
• Serves City-wide (Based in Alder District 11)

COVID-19 Response Initiative, Urban Triage Incorporated

• Up to $5,000 to fund grocery gift cards, groceries, food truck expenses for pick-up meals, and delivery/admin costs
• Serves Alder Districts 6, 12, 17, 18 (Based in Alder District 6)

Just Feeding Madison, Madison-area Urban Ministry, Inc.

• Up to $3,000 to fund ingredients and staff time for Just Bakery to produce and donate >150 loaves of bread to area pantries
• Serves multiple pantries City-wide (based in Alder District 17)

FEED to Go: Feeding Lake View Community School Families during COVID-19, Fiscal: Madison Northside Planning Council, Inc. c/o Lakeview Elementary School

• Up to $5,000 to fund ‘Feed-to-Go’ meals prepared by local chefs and distributed to residents in Northside neighborhoods
• Serves Alder Districts 12 and 18 (Based in Alder District 12)

People on Premises (POP) COVID-19 Grocery Delivery Program, Mellowhood Foundation, Inc.

• Up to $5,000 to fund staff time and personal protective equipment related to grocery delivery in the Meadowood, Hammersley/Theresa Terrace, Park Ridge, Wexford Ridge, and Prairie Hills neighborhoods
• Serves Alder Districts 9, 19 and 20 (based in Alder District 20)

Enhancing Food Access and Establishing Healthy Eating Habit through Early Childhood Education, Young Men’s Christian Association of Dane County, Inc.

• Up to $2,000 to fund meals through the YMCA Brown Bag Meal Program
• Serves City-wide (Based in Alder Districts 15 and 19)

Darbo Pantry Project Expansion Plan, Center for Community Stewardship, Inc. c/o Darbo Pantry Project

• Up to $2,500 to fund staff time for a Project Manager and Distribution Coordinator for the expansion of the Darbo Pantry Project, which delivers bags of local produce to Darbo – and with the expansion - Truax residents
• Serves Alder Districts 6 and 15 (Based in Alder District 6)

COVID-19 Bayview Community Food Access and Distribution Program, Bayview Foundation, Inc.

• Up to $3,500 to fund pre-packaged meals provided to Bayview-area residents
• Alder District 13

Food Emergency Initiative in support of Early Childhood Healthy Eating, Kids Forward, Inc.

• Up to $4,500 to fund staff time and stipends for Early Childhood Education (ECE) providers to manage ECE food distribution program
• Serves City-wide (Based in Alder District 4)

Farm Manager Support for Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens’ Forward Garden Expansion, Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens, Inc.

• Up to $4,000 to fund staff time (farm manager) for food pantry gardens expansion
• Serves City-wide (Based in Alder District 10)

Creation of Mamie’s Garden, Urban League of Greater Madison, Inc. c/o ‘Mamie’s Garden’

• Up to $1,500 to fund "neighborhood harvest garden" establishment costs (materials, seeds, soil amendments)
• Alder District 14

"As we deal with the ramifications of COVID-19 in our city, one thing is clear. Our community-based organizations are absolutely crucial to connecting Madison residents – especially those most in need of assistance – with the resources they need to feed their families," said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. "The City stands as a partner with these organizations, providing and leveraging much needed resources so they can continue to serve and assist our residents through these challenging times."

Since 2014, the City of Madison SEED Grants have distributed $350,000 to over 60 organizations working to promote food systems education and increase food access.