Badger Prairie Needs Network Inc

BADGER PRAIRIE NEEDS NETWORK IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TOHELPING OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE VERONA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT BY PROVIDINGRESOURCES TO MEET BASIC NEEDS WHILE PROMOTING DIGNITY AND INSPIRINGHOPE.

FOOD PANTRY IN 2021, WE PROVIDED OVER 586,000 MEALS TO MORE THAN 18,950 INDIVIDUALS FROM 5,484 HOUSEHOLDS. THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF THOSE WE SERVE. IN 2019, OVER 65% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS SERVED HAD ONE OR MORE FAMILY MEMBERS WORKING FOR WAGES (68%). IN 2021, THAT NUMBER DROPPED TO 40%. IT RAISED TO 59% IN 2021. WE ALSO SERVED A LARGE POPULATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS ON FIXED INCOMES, AND FOLKS THAT HAD SIMPLY FALLEN ON TOUGH TIMES. OVER A THIRD (37%) OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVED WERE CHILDREN.

PRAIRIE KITCHEN/INCUBATOR PROGRAMSTHE COMMERCIAL-GRADE KITCHEN SERVES 4 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: 1) NUTRITION EDUCATION: COOKING CLUBS ARE OFFERED FOR SENIORS, AGES 55+ AND CHILDREN, AGES 5 -14 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UW-HEALTH CLINICS AND THE LOCAL SENIOR CENTER, 2) MEAL SITE: AS A LICENSED RESTAURANT, THE KITCHEN IS USED ON SATURDAYS TO PREPARE A FREE COMMUNITY MEAL WHEN SCHOOL LUNCHES AND SENIOR MEALS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, 3) FOOD REPACKAGING: ALREADY PREPARED FOOD DONATED BY CORPORATE CAFETERIAS TO OUR KITCHEN TO TABLE INITIATIVE IS SAFELY REPACKAGED INTO GRAB-N-GO MEALS, AND 4) BUSINESS INCUBATOR: THE KITCHEN IS RENTED AT BELOW-MARKET RATES BY LOCAL START-UP BUSINESSES DEVELOPING FOOD PRODUCTS FOR RESALE.PRAIRIE KITCHEN MEALS ARE FREE MEALS OFFERED ON THE 1ST AND 3RD SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH IN OUR COMMUNITY ROOM. THE MEAL USUALLY INCLUDES SOUP AND SALAD, PASTA OR RICE, A CHICKEN, PORK OR BEEF DISH, A VEGETATION/VEGAN SELECTION, BREAD, A DESSERT AND DRINK. THE PURPOSE OF THE MEAL IS TO CREATE A MORE COHESIVE, RESILIENT COMMUNITY AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR BPNN'S MISSION TO END HUNGER AND POVERTY ON A LOCAL LEVEL. WE CHOSE SATURDAYS FOR THE MEAL TO FILL THE GAP WHEN SCHOOL LUNCHES AND SENIOR MEAL PROGRAMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. EVERYONE IS WELCOME, AND NO RESERVATION IS REQUIRED. THE COMMUNITY MEAL WAS ON HOLD IN 2020, BUT IN 2019, OVER 4,000 MEALS WERE SERVED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING BACK THIS MUCH LOVED PROGRAM IN 2021.

KITCHEN TO TABLE: WISCONSIN FOOD RECOVERY NETWORK IN 2021, OUR FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM COLLECTED 89,211 LBS OF SURPLUS PREPARED MEALS FROM CORPORATE CAFETERIAS, DIVERTING THE DELICIOUS FOOD FROM LOCAL LANDFILLS. THE FOOD IS BROUGHT TO BPNN'S COMMERCIAL KITCHEN WHERE IT IS SAFELY REPACKAGED INTO GRAB-N-GO MEALS AND DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN WISCONSIN IN MICROWAVABLE TAMPER-RESISTANT PACKAGING.