Hunger Programs

Food Pantry

The Food Pantry at Edgerton Community Outreach is ECO’s most utilized and most visible program. The Edgerton Food Pantry is an open pantry that serves those in the Edgerton School District or have an Edgerton address. Each month 95-125 families visit the Food Pantry to supplement their household’s nutrition needs. The Food Pantry provides canned goods as well as milk and fresh and frozen food items. ECO has multiple chest freezers and refrigerators which allows ECO to accept donations of all types of food items. ECO greatly relies on donated food but is also able to purchase food for the pantry through the Second Harvest Food Bank of Madison.

Many items through Second Harvest can be purchased at a greatly reduced rate compared to retail outlets. The ECO Food Pantry also receives food each month through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). It takes a variety of food sources to keep the pantry shelves stocked. In addition to food items participants are able to receive diapers, personal care items, and household cleaning supplies when available.

The Food Pantry, for those needing assistance, is open:

Monday	10am-2pm
Tuesday	10am-2pm
Wednesday	1pm-5:30pm
Thursday	10am-2pm
Friday	10am-2pm

You can get your groceries delivered to your home every Tuesday and Thursday. Make sure to call before 12pm!

Edgerton Community Outreach envisions creating a healthier community through partnership with UW Extension and the Safe and Healthy Food Pantry Initiative.  We are committed to supporting the health of our guests by prioritizing the distribution of recommended USDA’s MyPlate foods and nutrients such as:

•  Fruits and Vegetables
•  Whole Grains
•  Low fat- or no-fat dairy and milk products
•  A variety of protein foods
•  Foods low in sodium

We seek to provide basic staples to support meal planning and preparation. Consider using the Food Drive Five (Protein Foods, Fruit, Soups, Whole Grain, Vegetables) when donating.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP):

ECO Food Pantry is a designated TEFAP site. The Emergency Food Assistance program (TEFAP) is a federal program that provides food assistance to those with low incomes.

TEFAP PROVIDES:

• Groceries for about three to five days, to supplement the food provided by food pantries.
• Variety of meat, fairy, pasta, beans, rice, and canned and fresh fruits and vegetables. This food is received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and distributed by food pantries.

How to get TEFAP Food Assistance

If you reside in the Edgerton School District area contact us to begin the intake process into the ECO Food Pantry. If you are located outside of the Edgerton School District contact United Way to find a TEFAP site near you. Contact 211 or visit 211 Wisconsin

School Snack Pack Program

The School Snack Pack Program, formally known as the Breakfast Club, provides a snack baggie of cereal for any student requesting one during their milk break.  The program supports kindergartner teachers and students by providing boxed crackers and snacks that teachers can utilize for their classrooms. 

Weekend Grub Club

The Weekend Grub Club provides an extra supplement of food for kids in the Edgerton School District to take home on the weekends during the school year. We provide a beverage, breakfast, entrée, fruit, and snack item. The food is packaged weekly by volunteer staff and delivered discreetly to children at school near the end of the week.  Families that are interested in this program can get more information from ECO staff, Principals, School Social Worker or Guidance Counselors. Emmaus Community Church, Gifts For Kids, Edgerton School District, and Community Members partnered with Edgerton Community Outreach to start the program. Sign ups can be done by contacting Edgerton Community Outreach.

Lunch in the Park (Summer Lunch Program)

Lunch in the Park provides a no cost lunch to kids in the Edgerton area during the Summer months. At this time, there are no qualifications required to receive a lunch. From 2016 through 2019, volunteers served lunch Monday through Thursday from 12 pm to 1 pm at the Central Park Pavilion near Swift Street. Meals alternated between a cold lunch and hot lunch. In 2020, ECO partnered with the Edgerton School District shifting the program to a delivery only style to pivot with the pandemic. Volunteers packaged 4 meals weekly at the Edgerton schools and delivered the meals to their homes. The program served 78 kids. In 2023 the program delivered 1,824 meals.

Stockboxes

The Stockbox Program is open to all people 60 years or older and meets the income requirements. Stockboxes are free, pre-packaged boxes of food for low income seniors. They are filled with nutritious items that can round out a meal. If you believe you are eligible sign up through the ECO office.