La Crosse and Vernon County area food pantries.
The four country region of La Crosse, Vernon, Monroe, and Trempealeau is supported by several free food pantries. The charities are involved in feeding the poor, families in a crisis, and the homeless. The goal of the food banks is to ensure that residents (especially children and seniors) have free or affordable groceries available to them. Since this is a larger region in Wisconsin, the pantries only cover a select area. However many will have referrals. Families can be provided either fresh or more likely canned food. There are also soup kitchens for hot meals, including at the holidays. While not as common, some of the food pantries in La Crosse County may also offer financial aid. Or the staff can help residents apply for public benefits such as SNAP food stamps, WIC vouchers, or EBT cards. So many resources are available.
- Place of Grace
Address is 919 Hood St, La Crosse, WI 54601. Call (608) 782-6224 The needy in La Crosse County can be given free food, meals, and more. They have groceries, Thanksgiving or Christmas meals, and baby formula among other items.
Arcadia Food Pantry
Location is 464 St. Joseph Avenue Arcadia, WI Phone: (608) 323-7460 The working poor in Trempealeau County can apply for groceries, hygiene items, and more. They also run Meals on Wheels for low income senior citizens and the charity also provide meals or toys for kids at Christmas.
Bethel Home and Services
341 Black River Avenue
Westby, Wisconsin Phone - (608) 634-3473 Monroe and Vernon County families can apply for financial aid, shelter, and more. There may be holiday toys from the thrift store, emergency food passed out, and other USDA hunger prevention programs.
Cashton Cupboard and Closet
Address: 199 Front Street Cashton, Wisconsin Dial (608) 654-5770 Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse Location of the charity - 413 South 3rd Street La Crosse, WI (608) 782-0710 Free food, hygiene items, baby formula, and more is provided. Single moms, kids, immigrants and others are clients.
Ecumenical Bread Basket
- North Water Street
Sparta, Wisconsin Main phone - (608) 269-5081 Monroe County Wisconsin families can get hot meals, milk, canned food, and referrals.
Faith Evangelical Free Church
6644 State Highway 16 Sparta, WI (608) 269-5469
Trinity Lutheran Church
1010 Sill Street, La Crosse, WI (608) 780-1283
- free food pantry is on site. Personal hygiene items, diapers, soap, and more is provided to families in poverty.
G-E-T Community Food Pantry
20237 West Ridge Avenue
Galesville, Wisconsin For hours, dial (608) 582-2991
Independence Food Pantry
Main address - 23688 Adams Street Independence, WI Free food bank for low income seniors, children, and households.
La Farge Free Methodist Food Pantry
214 South Cherry Street
La Farge, Wisconsin (608) 625-6242 The Vernon County charity relies on donations. Food runs out quickly. There may be soup, peanut butter, cereal, infant formula, and even basic need such as clothing.
Living Faith Food Pantry
209 Sand Road Viroqua, WI Main phone - (608) 637-7410 Free diaper, baby food/formula, low cost cribs, and other items are available. Neighbor for Neighbor, Inc (608) 372-6737 The agency covers eastern Monroe County. Free food, USDA commodities, Thanksgiving or Christmas meals, and a 3 day box of groceries are provided.
New Hope Church
Address: E2290 State Highway 82 De Soto, WI Dial (608) 734-3478
Onalaska Holmen Emergency Food Basket
735 Sand Lake Road
Onalaska, Wisconsin (608) 783-7722 Vouchers for buying milk are provided. They also have eggs, bread, clothing, meat, and more for La Crosse County. Onalaska Schools food for children Food bank and clothing closet is at 524 Main Street Irving, Wisconsin Main phone - (608) 781-9701 Free hygiene items (such as toothbrushes and deodorant) are combined with volunteers delivering food.
Reaching Out Ministries
W15822 Simonson Road
Whitehall, Wisconsin (715) 896-0604 Meals on Wheels are provided for seniors, disabled, and the homebound in Trempealeau County.
River of Life Food Pantry
1214 County Road PH
Onalaska, Wisconsin Phone: (608) 782-2780 Ruby’s Pantry – Oasis Church 22547 State Highway 21, Oasis Church Tomah, WI Dial (608) 567-9230 Food, bulk groceries, and goods are sold to the public at a low cost.
Salvation Army
There are multiple sites. In Houston County, dial (507) 894-2676 Monroe County dial (608) 374-4141. Trempealeau County center is (608) 989-9921 In Vernon, dial (608) 475-9040. La Crosse County families can dial (608) 782-6126. Programs include free Christmas toys from Angel Tree, a food pantry, soup kitchen, and financial aid for paying rent or heating bills. There is also a thrift store with clothing and winter attire, referrals to SNAP, and shelters. If these can’t help, find Salvation Army programs in Wisconsin .
The Good Samaritan Food Pantry and Thrift Store
- Mill Street
Hillsboro, Wisconsin Telephone: (608) 489-3627
United Methodist Church Office
225 North Washington Street
Telephone - (608) 627-1910
West Salem Area Community Care and Share
359 North Leonard Street
West Salem, Telephone Phone - (608) 786-1142
Wilton Food Pantry
406 Main Street Wilton, Telephone Call (608) 435-6406. The free food bank is for both Monroe and Vernon Counties. For more locations or referrals, dial (608) 223-9121. Many other hunger prevention programs feed struggling families. Whether it is an emergency box of food, information on free lunches for students, or USDA benefits, dial the hot-line. By