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Where To Find Food, Housing Help And More In Wisconsin During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Food Pantries, Senior Services Adjusting Hours And Programs

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Bare meat cooler shelves amid COVID-19 outbreak
Shelves of hot dogs are nearly empty at a Walmart in Warrington, Pa., Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Concerns over the new coronavirus have led to consumer panic buying of grocery staples in stores across the country. AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Are you in need of food? Do you need someone to pick up groceries? Are you looking for ways to help during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of resources across Wisconsin. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, you can search for services online at 211 Wisconsin, dial 211 on your phone, or text your ZIP code to 898211.

We’ll keep updating this list as the outbreak continues.

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School Districts Providing Meals While Schools Are Closed:

Services For Senior Citizens, People Living With Disabilities:

BROWN COUNTY:

DANE COUNTY:

  • NewBridge is delivering food and “emergency kits,” which include water, hygiene products, and over-the-counter medication, to older adults in Madison and Monona.
  • The Goodman Community Center is calling older adults every day to check in.

EAU CLAIRE COUNTY:

LANGLADE, LINCOLN, MARATHON AND WOOD COUNTIES:

MILWAUKEE COUNTY:

ONEIDA COUNTY

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY:

Other Food Resources:

STATEWIDE:

You may qualify for help through the state FoodShare program.

BROWN COUNTY:

CRAWFORD COUNTY:

DANE COUNTY:

EAU CLAIRE COUNTY:

LA CROSSE COUNTY:

MARATHON COUNTY:

  • The Neighbors’ Place food pantry in Wausau is allowing people to send someone to collect food in their place if they are worried about visiting the pantry themselves.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY:

MONROE COUNTY:

NORTHERN WISCONSIN COUNTIES:

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY:

WAUKESHA COUNTY:

Housing:

BROWN COUNTY:

DANE COUNTY:

EAU CLAIRE COUNTY:

LA CROSSE COUNTY

  • La Crosse County homeless shelters are teaming up to handle the pandemic. A new emergency shelter is opening, and all people seeking shelter will have to go to one central location to get a health screening. Find more information in this press release.

MANITOWOC COUNTY

WASHINGTON COUNTY

  • Find shelter and homelessness services through Family Promise in West Bend.

Wifi Access:

DANE COUNTY:

LA CROSSE COUNTY:

MARATHON COUNTY:

Unemployment:

Apply for state unemployment benefits here. The state also has an FAQ about applying for unemployment during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Health Care:

  • The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Covering Wisconsin is a free service that can help connect you with health care.

Staying Active:

  • The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation has compiled a list of COVID-19-safe outdoor and indoor activities to stay active, including over 350 virtual workouts, tips for social distancing with kids and online yoga classes.
  • Many previously closed Wisconsin state parks are opening again, with restrictions.

Places To Connect:

Many people are using social media to stay connected and offer each other help.

  • The Wausau Pilot & Review started the Facebook page Central Wisconsin Coronavirus Updates, where people can ask reporters questions about the virus.
  • People living around Chequamegon Bay can share information and supplies with neighbors, as well as volunteer their time for grocery runs and childcare, at the Chequamegon Bay Community Care Facebook page.

Ways You Can Help:

Browse all kinds of COVID-19-related volunteer opportunities here.

Want to support local businesses?

Want to donate personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, etc.)?

And here are some more places looking for donations.

Editor’s note: This story will be updated.