Green Bay food company steps up donations, discounts

GREEN BAY – Confusion about when federal funds will replenish Wisconsin’s FoodShare program for low-income people is spurring local groups to look for ways to fill the gap.

“Whenever there’s something like this where resources might be taken away from those who need them most, it’s really important for the community to work together,” said Taylor Stahlke, president of BE’s Gives Back, a nonprofit affiliated with BE’s Refreshments, a provider of snacks and beverages for vending machines that opened an outlet store at 1302 Bellevue in Green Bay last week.

If the company produces too many sandwiches or muffins, the new outlet store provides a way to sell it to the community at a reduced price, she said. “It opened Nov. 5, Wednesday. That was kind of a coincidental timely thing, not necessarily because of the government shutdown but definitely needed now,” Stahlke said.

A “chaotic series of events” has allowed Wisconsin FoodShare recipients to use EBT debit cards to purchase groceries despite a lack of funds, according to Gov. Tony Evers’ office, but it’s leading to a precarious financial situation for the state. The FoodShare program is Wisconsin’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps, and it’s federally funded.

While in Michigan, the Department of Health Services said Nov. 10 it would provide full payments for SNAP recipients in the state, Wisconsin said the same day its letter of credit backed by the federal government for the SNAP or FoodShare program had dwindled to fewer than two days of cash, prompting Evers to join leaders from other states in requesting renewed action from the courts to force the federal government to release the funds.

While a Rhode Island federal court and one in Massachusetts have ordered the federal government to continue funding the program, President Donald Trump Nov. 10 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn these court orders and halt federal payments.

In a Nov. 8 letter to the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, leaders from various states including Wisconsin described the “significant confusion” they’re dealing with, with the federal government agreeing to provide benefits, then backing off and reversing its pledge.

On Nov. 9, Evers said he responded “No” to the Trump Administration’s request that Wisconsin return to the federal government SNAP funds it had received. This development came despite Trump saying on social media he didn’t want children to go hungry.

Evers said Wisconsin had acted on a court order allowing the state to load benefits to FoodShare EBT debit cards for groceries. “After we did so, the Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement full SNAP benefits for November and would ‘complete the processes necessary to make funds available.’ The federal government has failed to do so to date,” Evers said Nov. 9.

The number of Wisconsin residents enrolled in the FoodShare EBT program totals about 700,000, including 270,000 children, according to Evers’ office.

In Green Bay, Stahlke said BE’s Refreshments’ new outlet store was attracting people who wanted to help those in need, such as a teacher’s wife who purchased snacks for her husband to take to school.

“We’ve seen a big impact for those who came in and took advantage of what we have in the store, which is really great to see,” she said.

The company’s nonprofit arm, BE’s Gives Back, also is stepping up its food donations.

“I’ve seen a lot of food drives. We’re doing a companywide drive right now to support Freedom House,” a homeless shelter in Green Bay, Stahlke said. Last week, in response to a request from Encompass in Green Bay, the nonprofit provided 24 meals for families in need, she said.

“Last week was the first week communities have felt the effects of the SNAP benefits being delayed. We have noticed that and have dipped into our funds a little bit more to try to help those that need it,” she said.