NEWS

Greta Hansen knows firsthand how the economic downturn has hiked the need for such basics as shelter and food.

"We are seeing people who have never been to a food pantry before," says Hansen, the executive director of Community Action Coalition (CAC). "They come in and need guidance with how a pantry works and often are embarrassed to be there. Our volunteers make them feel welcome and explain the system to them."

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the CAC experienced a 27% increase in pantry visits compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. It's also seen an increased demand for its temporary rent assistance and eviction-prevention programs.

"Low-income people are resourceful," says Hansen, "but people facing poverty for the first time because of job loss or foreclosure of their home have fear and anxiety. We help them to see that they have value and that there is hope for them."

The nonprofit group, with an annual budget of $4 million, receives funding from federal and state agencies as well as local foundations, companies and donors. Last year the amount raised through public donations fell slightly.

But the CAC did receive help from an unexpected source: the Madison Community Foundation. Last year, the foundation announced that it was refocusing its efforts to direct $500,000 in emergency funding to local nonprofits that provide basic needs, including food and shelter.

The CAC was recently awarded $27,000 to buy new carts, dollies and storage bins for some of the 46 food pantries it serves. The allocation fits the foundation's mission of funding infrastructure improvements that will help groups over the long term.

"We asked nonprofits to give us a proactive idea of how they could partner with us," says Kathleen Woit, the foundation's president. It's the first time in the philanthropic group's 67-year history that it's gone beyond funding arts and culture, child-related projects and the environment and turned its attention to basic needs.

"I've just loved seeing this unfold," says Woit. "The cooperation between nonprofits has been fantastic, and the response throughout the community has been positive and supportive."

In all, the Madison Community Foundation received 32 proposals. It chose nine in the first round of grants, announced in March. The other groups include Porchlight, Habitat for Humanity, St. Vincent de Paul and Second Harvest Food Bank.

Tom Linfield, the foundation's vice president of grant-making and community initiatives, notes that several food pantries worked together for the first time to buy freezers through a Madison-based supplier of commercial kitchen equipment.

"They were able to save 25% to 30% on freezer purchases," he says. This allowed one group to buy three freezers instead of two, as they originally planned.

Until then, many of the food pantries were using old donated residential refrigerators and freezers that were too small and constantly breaking down.

The Madison Community Foundation has also given money for the Lussier Community Education Center on the west side and the Goodman Community Center on the east side. And it's helped set up endowment programs for the Overture Center's resident arts organizations.

"We fund constituencies that affect a lot of people and help to bring people together," says Woit.

In a three-year project, the foundation gave $300,000 to CAC for community gardens throughout Dane County. This year, according to Linfield, the CAC had plans to start five new gardens but will actually start 10, five of which will grow food specifically for donation to food pantries.

Linfield says the foundation initiated the idea that growers at the community gardens plant victory gardens reminiscent of those that provided fresh vegetables during World War II. "Given the patriotic mood of the country, there is a high level of acceptability of the victory garden idea in the community," he says.

Another foundation grant beneficiary, Porchlight, received $50,000 to renovate a building on Mills Street to provide temporary housing for 24 homeless veterans. Twenty percent of the adult homeless population are veterans, says Steven Schooler, the group's executive director. He expects a large influx of homeless vets from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, many of whom suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Porchlight has an annual budget of $3.1 million from the federal government, city of Madison, Dane County and state, as well as United Way, local foundations, companies and individual donors.

"We are experiencing something of a decrease in donations from private donors this year," says Schooler, "but our donations usually come in during the last six to eight weeks of the year."

The veterans housing project is backed by a $240,630 grant from the Veterans Administration. Schooler says the money from the Madison Community Foundation and others was instrumental in getting this larger grant.

[The VA] requested that we provide a percentage of matching funding," he says. "We approached five or six foundations with grant requests but were turned down because their portfolios were low on funds."

Beside the Madison Community Foundation, the veterans housing project has gotten help from the Evjue Foundation, Epic Systems, WHEDA and National Guardian Life. And the Madison Club Foundation is dedicating its fall 2009 fundraiser to the project.

Porchlight's eviction-prevention program, Dwelling Intervention Grants and Sustenance, is also in need. Says Schooler, "We are seeing an increase of persons from the middle class whom we wouldn't usually see, resulting in a long waiting list for help."

In April, the Madison Community Foundation will determine the next round of grants. One program in the works aims to promote the use of food stamps and other services.

A survey in October 2006 by the Hunger Prevention Council of Dane County showed that only 45% of those eligible for food stamps used them. "It's really eye-opening to see that participation in the food-stamp program is that low," says Woit. "We were absolutely startled by that."

Another initiative being considered is helping Independent Living gain access to a Community Car for Meals on Wheels deliveries.

"Our work is circular," says Linfield. "We want to fund programs and projects that will have a long-term effect on the program users."