As we evaluate the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison Food Pantry use month-by-month since 2019, we see a remarkable pattern. Here are the details of food pantry use by month:

2025 – Purple

2024 – Teal

• Pantry use stays at record highs month over month
• Rents continue to rise
• New pantry record days every month June through December
• Record of 3498 households served in August
• Three new record days the week leading up to Thanksgiving, all topping 300 families

2023 – Black

• January 2023 (black line) was our largest-ever month, even though there were no record-setting days.
• February had a slight dip, still far above even the high months of 2020, and likely had fewer visits due to the length of the month and three Thursdays (typically our busiest days) with blizzard-like conditions.
• March jumped to 2,854 visits, the highest ever by more than 300 visits. This reflected the end of pandemic-era accelerated FoodShare benefits (SNAP) going back to pre-pandemic norms, a decrease in benefit of about $100 per person.
• April still exceeded 2,450 visits for the month and reflected two fewer pantry days in April than in March, with an average of 153 visits per pantry day.
• June hit a new high with 2,858 households served.
• The new “normal” over the spring and summer months saw pantry visits landing between 2,600-3,000 per month.
• The last four months of the year saw new pantry record days every month through December; peaking at 3,154 households in October.

2022 – Green

• Advance child tax credit expired in December 2021
• Expanded FoodShare benefits end in February
• Gasoline prices hit new highs in March and continue to rise
• Food inflation begins in spring and surges summer into fall
• Eviction moratorium ends, rent prices spike

2021 – Yellow

• In 2021 (yellow line), as federal funds – particularly advance child tax credit and stimulus payments – became available to families, pantry use dropped significantly to lower than historical use throughout the year. Presumably more people had money to provide for their family’s food needs.
• Stimulus check = lower pantry use
• Advance child tax credit = historically low pantry use (1,100-1,200 households) until the holidays

2020 – Red

• In 2020 (red line), pantry use reflected the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout its first year
• Pandemic effects start in March: business shutdowns = lost work = increased pantry use
• Stimulus checks = lower pantry use
• Spikes in infection rates = lost work = more pantry use

2019 – Blue

• Fairly consistent month over month, 1500-1600 visits. 
• Similar to previous years dating back several years

How You Can Help

Each week, hundreds of households turn to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry for food. There are many ways to help. If you care about ending food insecurity and giving back to our community, then volunteer, give goods or donate!

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