Wayforward Resources

Food security (pantry and clothing center) - the food pantry re-opened to in-person shopping in july 2022, augmenting the drive-thru pantry which continues on saturdays. The in-person food pantry operates four days a week, including evening hours, and serves all of dane county. Guests can visit as often as they need. Deliveries provide access to food for those who struggle with transportation. The food pantry provides access to nutritious food such as produce, protein sources, and dairy year-round. The clothing center provides free clothing and household goods. On our busiest day of the week over 500 people access food from the pantry.

Seasonal programs - the seasonal programs included the back to school program and winter wishes program. The back to school program provided backpacks stuffed with school supplies to clients who signed up for the program. Backpacks included additional items such as headphones with microphones. For a second year, winter wishes operated as a gift card program, allowing donors to continue to give directly to families while still allowing individuals and families the dignity of choosing their own items by shopping on their own.

Housing stability - through the housing stability program, case managers assess and provide support to households, including financial housing assistance to help prevent eviction and maintain long-term stable housing. Families receive assistance with rent, security deposits, utilities, and other small emergency grants. In addition, an outreach case manager works with area organizations to facilitate broader access to services for our community. About 500 households received housing stability funds. The connections housing program serves households in doubled-up living arrangements. Doubling-up is when an individual or family lives with another household temporarily or shuffles indefinitely between homes because of economic need. The connections program supports individuals through case management and funds to ensure households have a place of their own to call home.

Advocacy and community education - essential for creating upstream outcomes to housing instability and food insecurity that respond to systemic inequities. Specifically, racial inequities affect access to food and housing security. This program provides education opportunities for our staff as well as for our volunteers and provides opportunities for community collaboration. Activities this year included creating a new equity onboarding for volunteers as well as organizing an ongoing foundational racial equity training series.

Seniors program - the seniors program keeps seniors (age 60+) independent by providing transportation, shopping, and home chore assistance. The program also delivers groceries from the food pantry, as well as friendly visitor phone calls and outdoor chore assistance.