MENOMONIE – The Stepping Stones of Dunn County Board of Directors and Executive Director have made the challenging decision to reduce their Food Pantry services.
Beginning Monday, June 30, the Food Pantry will no longer be open on Fridays, reducing weekly days open from five days to four days. Additionally, the number of monthly visits allowed per household is being reduced. Individuals using the pantry can visit once every 14 days instead of once every seven days.
“The pantry is one of the foundations of Stepping Stones services and making cuts to food available to homes was difficult but in proportion to need.” said Barbara Fagan, Stepping Stones of Dunn County board president.
Stepping Stones has seen federal funding cuts of over $150,000, most of which impacts its Food Pantry. In addition the the federal funding cuts, Stepping Stones is operating in a deficit while seeing an increased need for its services.
“This decision was not made lightly as it will impact over 5,000 unique individuals that utilize our pantry services annually. In order to keep our food pantry open, we needed to asses our current funding and find ways to save money.” said Corrisa Villeneuve, Stepping Stones executive director.
Stepping Stones is navigating a challenging financial time while its leadership team works diligently to find and apply for qualifying grants and look for other income opportunities. Community support is more crucial now than ever. Prior to federal funding cuts, Stepping Stones was already facing a financial hardship. In 2023, Stepping Stones opened its new 20 bed shelter, Cairn House, to meet the need of supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. This addition has allowed Stepping Stones to provide 10,000 nights of shelter to those in need, but it has also doubled its budget, said Villeneuve. Donations and other funding received is not keeping pace with the increased budget.
Stepping Stones asks the community to step up and make a donation. Small or large, any donation makes a difference. “We are seeking sustainable donations such as recurring monthly or annual donations,” Villeneuve added. “To put it into perspective, just $20 a month can provide food for 64 families using the pantry and $50 a month can provide 600 meals to children facing food insecurity.
Please, consider making a donation to help support your neighbors, friends, and family.” Donations can be made online at: SteppingStonesDc.org.
For further questions, please visit the FAQ page regarding these changes or reach out to Corrisa Villeneuve at [email protected].
Information provided by Stepping Stones of Dunn County
