As a growing number of Monroe County residents struggle to provide necessary food for their family, the Tomah Health Community Foundation is taking action to help combat the issue.
Members of the foundation continued their battle with area food insecurity by donating $2,500 to Couleecap for use at food pantries in Sparta and Norwalk.
Couleecap community engagement coordinator Emily Schendel said the foundation’s support will be used to purchase food to meet a growing demand in Monroe County. “It seems as though every time the food pantry is open, we’re seeing new people who have never been there before,” said Schendel. “They’re just experiencing that their dollars are not going as far at the grocery store and they just can’t seem to make it with what they’re able to purchase. Coming to the food pantry is able to help them stretch that further and feed their family in a way that they wouldn’t be able to otherwise.”
Eligible food pantry recipients are individuals and families with a household income at or below 185% of Federal Poverty Guidelines, of which approximately 28% of the people living in Monroe County have incomes at or below that level.
In 2025, 494 low-income households in Monroe County were provided with food resources and nutritional information through Couleecap food pantries. “The support from the foundation will be very vital because we are able to access food at a different price,” explained Schendel. “We’re able to get more with these dollars and be able to provide more to families. Being able to provide more fresh vegetables, meat, and things that people really can’t afford out of pocket, honestly, is going to really enhance our offerings.”
Couleecap’s food pantry in Sparta is located at 217 N. Black River St. and open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. while its Nowalk location is located at 200 W. North St. and open Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m.
Last June the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which Couleecap administers to distribute food to local pantries, was notified that all fresh milk, cheese, egg, and meat deliveries from the USDA were canceled. Schendel said the cancelation of the government food has resulted in an increased need for donations. “I think the need is only just going to continue to grow as things get more and more expensive. So we’ll be continuing to work to provide for the families in our community.”
Tomah Health Community Foundation treasurer Kyle VonHaden said the foundation’s donation reinforces its mission. “A big part of our mission is to improve health and wellness throughout Monroe County. That’s the area we serve and want to make sure we can be in those communities, and food insecurity is right at the forefront of that,” said VonHaden. “As we work with other organizations in our area, including Couleecap, we feel these funds can hopefully help them feed our community, improve their health, and make a difference.”