Middleton Outreach Ministry Inc

BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO CREATE FOOD AND HOUSING SECURITY THROUGH ACTION AND ADVOCACY.

FOOD SECURITY (PANTRY AND CLOTHING CENTER) - IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, THE FOOD PANTRY OPERATED AS A CHOICE DRIVE-THRU PANTRY IN FY22, ALLOWING GUESTS TO CHOOSE ITEMS THROUGH A MENU SYSTEM, INCLUDING FRESH PRODUCE, AMPLE PROTEIN OPTIONS, AND DAIRY, IN ADDITION TO PANTRY STAPLES AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS. GROCERIES WERE PUT IN PEOPLE'S CARS THROUGH A NO-CONTACT SYSTEM. THE FOOD PANTRY SERVES ALL OF DANE COUNTY. DUE TO THE NECESSARY PIVOTS IN THESE SYSTEMS AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF CLIENTS, VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF, WE HAD TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT WAS DONATED BY THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING A BREADTH OF ITEMS THROUGH A FOCUSED TOP TEN LIST, INCLUDING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ITEMS, SUCH AS SPICES AND COLLARD GREENS. IN ADDITION, THE FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM RESPONDED TO EMERGING AND SHIFTING NEEDS IN THE FOOD SECURITY SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PARTNERING WITH AREA ORGANIZATIONS AND TARGETING IDENTIFIED NEEDS IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY.MOM STAFF ALSO PARTICIPATED IN MANY FOOD SECURITY ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING WORKING WITH STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN FOODSHARE AND PANDEMIC-EBT, AND HOSTING A COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC ON SITE.THE CLOTHING CENTER IS OPERATED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY AND ONE OR TWO HOUSEHOLDS AT A TIME. DUE TO THE NECESSARY PIVOTS IN THESE SYSTEMS AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF CLIENTS, VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF, WE HAD TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CLOTHING DONATED BY THE COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT, WE WERE LIMITED IN THE AMOUNT OF CLOTHING WE COULD DISTRIBUTE.

HOUSING STABILITY - THROUGH THE HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM, CASE MANAGERS ASSESS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO HELP PREVENT EVICTION AND MAINTAIN LONG-TERM STABLE HOUSING. FAMILIES RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH RENT, SECURITY DEPOSITS, UTILITIES, AND OTHER SMALL EMERGENCY GRANTS. IN ADDITION, AN OUTREACH CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH AREA ORGANIZATIONS TO FACILITATE BROADER ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 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.

SEASONAL PROGRAMS - THE SEASONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAM, THANKSGIVING BASKET 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 BACKPACKS INCLUDED ADDITIONAL ITEMS SUCH AS HEADPHONES WITH MICROPHONES. THE THANKSGIVING BASKET DISTRIBUTION OPERATED AS A CHOICE MODEL, ALLOWING CLIENTS TO CHOOSE FROM AN ENHANCED VARIETY OF FOOD OPTIONS, INCLUDING CULTURAL TRADITIONS NOT REPRESENTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. WINTER WISHES TRANSITIONED TO A GIFT CARD PROGRAM, ALLOWING DONORS TO CONTINUE TO GIVE DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES WHILE STILL ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THE DIGNITY OF CHOOSING THEIR OWN ITEMS THROUGH SHOPPING.