Public Health Madison & Dane County

One in Ten Dane County Residents Don't Know Where Their Next Meal Is Coming From. We All Have a Role to Play.

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Nearly 4 in 10 Dane County residents can't afford basic expenses — and food is often the first thing to go. Whether you're struggling yourself or want to support your community, there are resources, programs, and ways to get involved right now.

Food insecurity isn't just hunger.

Food insecurity can look like: 

  • Skipping meals or going hungry
  • Eating the same things repeatedly because it's what you can afford
  • Anxiety about running out of food 
  • Choosing between buying food and other necessities
  • Negative health outcomes related to not having access to enough nutritious food

Who is food insecure in Dane County? 

We don't have one perfect measure of who is food insecure, but we have lots of data that helps us get an idea of the local picture. What we do know is that food insecurity is common. You probably know someone who is struggling to afford food. 

  • 10.7% of Dane County people in 2023 reported being food insecure, according to data from the U.S. government. The numbers are even higher among Black people (30%) and Hispanic/Latino people (25%). 
  • 13% of high school students in Dane County said that if they didn't get breakfast and lunch at school, they wouldn't eat at all most days (Dane County Youth Assessment). 
  • 36% of households in Dane County earned less than the basic cost of living in Dane County in 2023 (United for ALICE).

In a community as strong and resourceful as Dane County, no one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity is not just about hunger, it is about dignity, health, and opportunity. Addressing it takes all of us working together to ensure every neighbor has access to the food they need to thrive.

—

Dane County Executive Melissa Agard

How We Help

Emergency food system coordination: We coordinate the Dane Food Access Network, a coalition of food programs providing emergency food and other food access initiatives. Members improve food security systems in Dane County by aligning efforts, collaborating on projects, and enhancing efficient delivery of services to food insecure households. 

Supporting nutrition assistance programs: Aside from coordinating the WIC program, we support the Double Dollars Program, a local program that provides a dollar-to-dollar match for SNAP/FoodShare recipients buying food at farmers' markets and participating grocery locations.

Other food access work: We support policy development through the Madison Food Policy Council to educate on policies that support food security in our community. 

How organizations and individuals can help 

  1. Economic security: Helping people have enough money to afford food and other necessities
  2. Access to affordable and nutritious food: Ensuring everyone lives close enough to places that have a variety of food, including fresh produce
  3. Nutrition assistance programs: Providing supplemental food for people at risk of hunger
  4. Emergency food system: Filling the gap via food banks, pantries, free meals, and other stopgaps

Learn more

Visit our new food security webpage

Learn more about WIC

Learn more about FoodShare

Find food near you

This content is free for use with credit to Public Health Madison & Dane County .

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