Program areas at Wayforward Resources
Food security (pantry and clothing center) - the food pantry operates five days a week and serves all of dane county. Guests can visit as often as they need. Deliveries provide access to food for those who struggle with transportation or mobility. The food pantry provides access to nutritious food such as produce, protein sources, and dairy year-round. The clothing center provides free clothing. On our busiest day of the week about 800 people access food.
Seasonal programs - includes the back to school program, thanksgiving distribution, and winter wishes program. The back to school program provided backpacks stuffed with school supplies to clients who signed up for the program. The thanksgiving distribution operated as a choice model, allowing clients to choose from an enhanced variety of food options. For a second year, winter wishes operated as a gift card program, allowing donors to continue to give directly to families while still allowing them the dignity of choosing their own items.
Housing stability - through the housing stability program, case managers assess and provide support to households, including financial assistance to help prevent eviction and maintain long-term stable housing. Families can receive assistance with rent, security deposits, utilities, and other bills. In addition, an outreach case manager works with area organizations to facilitate broader access to services for our community. About 700 households received housing stability funds in the most recent fiscal year.the connections housing program serves households in doubled-up living arrangements. Doubling-up is when an individual or family lives with another household temporarily or shuffles indefinitely between homes because of economic need. The connections program supports individuals through case management and funds to ensure households have a place of their own to call home. About 30 households participated in the connections program in the most recent fiscal year.
Seniors program the seniors program keeps seniors (age 60+) independent by providing transportation, shopping, and home chore assistance. The program also delivers groceries from the food pantry.
Advocacy and community education advocacy and community education is essential for creating upstream outcomes to housing instability and food insecurity that respond to systemic inequities. Specifically, racial inequities affect access to food and housing security. This program provides education opportunities for our staff as well as for our volunteers and provides opportunities for community collaboration. Activities this year included creating a new equity onboarding for volunteers as well as organizing an ongoing foundational racial equity training series.