Madison Food Pantries Face Rising Demand as Grocery Costs Climb

Madison food pantries are ramping up operations weeks ahead of Thanksgiving as more people struggle to afford groceries, Spectrum News reported.

The surge in need is coming from both long-term users and a growing number of first-time visitors. Organizations in the region are reporting that the pressure on local food security systems is not just continuing, but intensifying.

“There’s just a lot of need. It hasn’t really abated any at all. In fact, it’s gotten worse,” Andy Czerkas, director of Extended Hands Pantry, told Spectrum News.

Extended Hands Pantry currently serves approximately 500 families every week. The organization is facing a dual crisis of increased demand and a sharp rise in the cost of the very goods they provide to those in need.

Rising costs strain local pantry resources

The economic pressure is hitting the providers as much as the recipients. Inflationary trends in the food sector have directly impacted the ability of non-profits to stock their shelves.

According to Czerkas, the financial burden on the pantry has grown significantly over the last 12 months. The organization is now spending 28% more this year than it did during the previous year to secure food supplies.

For families like Guana Quizpe’s, the math of a weekly grocery trip has become nearly impossible. Quizpe, who visits Extended Hands every two weeks, said that even small trips for basic necessities have become prohibitively expensive.

“Everything is too expensive. When I go to buy a few things, it comes out to $20, $25, $28,” Quizpe told Spectrum News.

Quizpe and her husband are retired, leaving their daughter as the sole provider for the household.

While some economic perspectives suggest that broader inflationary pressures are stabilizing, the local reality for Madison’s most vulnerable populations tells a different story. The “so what” for the community is clear: as food costs rise, the safety net provided by volunteer-run organizations is being stretched to a breaking point, requiring more donations and more labor just to maintain current service levels.

Second Harvest Food Bank reports doubled demand

The scale of the challenge is reflected in the data from larger regional distributors. Second Harvest Food Bank, which delivers food to various partner agencies throughout the region, is seeing a massive shift in volume compared to recent years.

Cadre Mandy, vice president of operations at Second Harvest Food Bank, said that the need has grown significantly in the post-pandemic era. The organization is currently managing a distribution workload that has nearly doubled since 2023.

“We were just looking at the numbers. Need is increased nearly 100%, and that’s post-pandemic,” Mandy told Spectrum News.

The logistical scale of the operation is immense. On average, Second Harvest Food Bank distributes about 100,000 pounds of food every single day.

The organization’s ability to function has also been tested by recent security issues. Last week, vandals targeted the facility, resulting in shattered glass and a truck being set on fire. The facility also reported that grocery carts and rocks were thrown at food distribution vans and trucks.

Despite the damage, Mandy confirmed that there were no disruptions to the actual food distribution services. The organization has already launched its largest donation drive of the year to prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

The current situation highlights a growing gap between household income and the cost of basic nutrition. Volunteers like Dave Ewanowski, who works regularly at Extended Hands Pantry, say the work is essential because of the sheer number of people seeking assistance.

“There’s a lot of really good people helping and a lot of really great people that need our help,” Ewanowski told Spectrum News.

As the holiday season approaches, the demand for food, funds, and volunteers remains at a critical level for both Extended Hands Pantry and Second Harvest Food Bank.