Oshkosh Area Community Pantry expands its reach

OSHKOSH, WI – (WGBW & WISS) – The Oshkosh Area Community Pantry, which acts as a food pantry for southern Winnebago County changes a policy that will allow it to serve more people in the area.

Starting this month, OACP no longer requires guests to reside within its current southern Winnebago County service area to use the pantry. This policy change will allow OACP to extend its services to all neighbors in need, regardless of place of residence.

No proof of residency needed

“We have decided to drop our service area completely. Meaning, technically anybody from the entire state of Wisconsin is going to be able to come to our pantry to receive the necessary foods that they want or need,” said Ryan Rasmussen, Executive Director of the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry. “ What does that really mean? Do we really think that folks from La Crosse, Wausau, Chippewa Falls are all going to come to our pantry? Probably not. No. But geographically, we’ll be able to expand ourselves to Fond du Lac, Appleton, Neenah/Menasha, Green Bay, so being able to open our community a little more.”

For years, OACP has provided food assistance with dignity and respect. Located at 2551 Jackson Street in Oshkosh, the pantry has been a beacon of hope, offering a welcoming and barrier-free environment for individuals and families facing food insecurity.

“We truly believe in the dignity and respect of all of our guests. So we set our pantry up just like a grocery store,” said Ryan Rasmussen, Executive Director of the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry. “Folks are able to shop the aisles just like they would anywhere else. Which really separates us from a lot of other pantries, rather than getting a preloaded box of food.”

Rasmussen said OACP offers each of their clients approximately $6000 per person per family per year in food assistance.

“When you think about trying to take that $6000 and be able to do something else with it. That’s the power of what we’re trying to do. Use that money for other things,” said Rasmussen.

Why the change?

The removal of the residency requirement falls in line with new TEFAP regulations set to go into effect in October. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federally funded program. It provides healthy foods to pantries that donations don’t often cover, including milk, eggs, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. Most pantries that participate in TEFAP rely on the program for its diverse amount of food. Under previous TEFAP requirements, Wisconsin pantries were required to verify guests and their residences in order to receive TEFAP food. However, in October, the state no longer enforces this policy and pantries are to remove this as a requirement to reduce barriers when accessing emergency food.

This shift is anticipated to make a considerable impact on reducing food insecurity across Wisconsin, ensuring that no one is turned away due to their place of residence. Although proof of residence and IDs will no longer be required, OACP staff still encourages participants to provide this information and other demographics to assist in their efforts of grant reporting and raising funds to better meet the needs of its guests. 

“Listen! We are all one major thing away in life from being food insecure. One decision and we’re food insecure,” said Rasmussen. “Think of the person who has to have a medical procedure. And maybe they don’t have great insurance. And all of the sudden they are stuck in a situation where they’ve got to pay bills.” 

About Oshkosh Area Community Pantry

Rasmussen says each month the pantry sees 75 to 90 new families come in for help with hunger. 

For anyone who would like to support OACP’s mission of eliminating food insecurity as a volunteer, as a donor of food or as a donor of funds, visit oacptoday.org or call 920-651-9960 for more information.

OACP is open for guest shopping at their location in the Saint Vincent de Paul building at 2551 Jackson Street in Oshkosh, Mondays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, please visit oacptoday.org or contact OACP by calling 920-651-9960 for more information.