MANITOWOC – Directors from two of the area’s biggest food pantries say they are experiencing both an increase in people in need of food and a dip in funding and food donations, in part because of cuts in federal programs.
In early March, food banks learned that $500 million would be cut from Local Food Purchase Assistance, a federal program giving them funds to buy food from local farms.
A few weeks later, the Department of Government Efficiency cut another $500 million from the Emergency Food Assistance Program, a staple for federal food bank funding.
Pantries that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, can also expect decreased dollars. The recently passed federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act will cut $187 billion from the program over the next decade.
In response to the March cuts, Manitowoc’s Grow It Forward, 1501 Marshall St., now allows clients a three-day allotment of food once a month, compared to a three-day allotment of food once a week previously.
The pantry also no longer offers a drive-through option for its community meals — they’re only in person.
“The people who are cut out are the homebound,” Grow It Forward founder and CEO Amber Daugs told the Herald Times Reporter. “We’ve had to make some tough decisions. It’s a lot of pressure to figure out how to be more strategic with what we have.”
Grow It Forward does not receive direct funding from the federal government unless it’s in the form of a grant, Daugs said, and doesn’t participate in the SNAP program. But cuts to the farm program, as well as increases in food prices, means less meat and fresh produce on Grow It Forward’s shelves.
Meanwhile, Grow It Forward has seen a 40% increase year-over-year of people coming to the pantry. Food donations also are down 30%, Daugs said.
The pantry’s popular Harmony Café and Juicery is a major funding source, but sales there are also down.
“Because people are struggling with the costs of everything going up, we’re seeing less people come out to the café,” she said.
Peter’s Pantry, 843 S. 21st St., Manitowoc, is experiencing many of the same challenges, Manager Tracy Minehan told the Herald Times Reporter.
“We have seen a steady increase in the number of people coming in the past few months,” she said. “We are noticing more homeless people coming in, saying they can’t take dairy because they don’t have a refrigerator or they don’t have a stove or microwave. I’ve had a pastor come in and say he has a parishioner living in a hotel who doesn’t have any food.”
It’s a trend that’s lasted a few years.
Peter’s Pantry saw 978 unique visitors in June 2022; 1,332 in June 2023; 1,887 in June 2024; and 2,376 in June 2025.
The pantry gives away around 60,000 pounds of food a month and is connected with the larger Feeding America U.S. hunger relief organization.
Donations also are down, but Minehan noted that is typical for the summer months, and people tend to give more during the holiday season.
Peter’s Pantry also does not receive direct funding from the federal government.
“We try to be fiscally responsible,” Minehan said. “If we’re getting low on food, we will go out and buy items, or we may say rather than taking 30 products from the shelves, we ask clients to take 22 this time.”
There are signs of hope.
Peter’s Pantry recently added a lift — as well as a ramp — so clients using wheelchairs or walkers now can access the shelves.
“Now, they don’t have to bring someone with them, or have one of us trying to help them,” Minehan said. “They can pick out the foods they like and want.”
Pantries are working together through the county’s Hunger Task Force so they don’t duplicate services, Daugs said. The task force is spearheaded by United Way Manitowoc County.
“I have a lot of hope,” Daugs said. “I have hope that every time our community hears what’s going on, they step up and show support.”
For information about donating to or volunteering at Peter’s Pantry, call 920-682-6989. Minehan said they’re especially in need of bilingual volunteers. Call 920-645-9467 for similar information about Grow It Forward.
Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@gannett.com or call 920-606-2575.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc food pantries say donations are down and usage is up amid uncertain economy
Reporting by Patti Zarling, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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