Shelly Fortner on food bank struggles, upcoming Taste of Garden fundraiser

Shelly Fortner, executive director of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, in studio, discussing the struggles food banks are having right now with federal funding cuts and future uncertainty, plus the dire need for the community's help. Fortner also talked about their annual Taste of the Garden fundraiser coming up from 5-8 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Kane Street Community Garden. This year's event will feature a bunch of local drink and food vendors, including:  Pearl Street Brewery Turtle Stack Brewery Lost Island Wine Bluff Top Vineyard River View Vineyard & Winery Hoch Orchard and Gardens Gillette Pepsi-Cola Olive Garden Howie’s Black Student Leaders/ Hope Restores Pasture Pride Cheese The Hunger Task Force just wrapped up a food drive last month, where the community helped collected nearly 3,800 pounds of food and $2,400. The Hunger Task Force serves over 120 meal sites, food pantries, youth programs, and outreach sites in a eight-county area in Wisconsin Minnesota and Iowa. Food banks have already seen $1 billion in federal funding cuts. And with food prices continuing to rise, and plus future SNAP regulations coming, that means more people will be in need. The SNAP — or food stamp — changes in the Big Beautiful Bill passed by Republicans and signed by President Donald Trump will raise the work requirement age from 54 to 64 and force parents with children older than 6 — instead of 14 — to meet added requirements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.