11,066 Gallons
of fresh dairy distributed in 2025
72,900+ Pounds
of fresh produce, cheese and packaged goods distributed in 2025
675
Hours
of volunteer time provided in 2025
It is estimated that our nation spends about $90 billion annually in excess healthcare costs due to food insecurity. Access to nutritious food is considered a key driver of health.
Community Hunger Solutions (CHS) is dedicated to connecting local produce and dairy, with community members who face barriers in accessing fresh food.
We achieve this by providing the infrastructure to aggregate, sort and store excess local food, sourced via partnerships with food producers and retailers. Additionally, we facilitate food distribution to those in need, through our partnerships with food pantries and meal sites.
Intake Excess Local Produce and Dairy
Aggregate, Sort and Store Excess Local Food
Facilitate Pick-ups and Deliveries with Our Partners
Our Supporting Partners
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Strict retail standards and the extremely perishable nature of many food items means a lot of waste in our nations food supply chain. Community Hunger Solutions (CHS) provides support to local farms and food retailers in exchange for their excess food products.
Through partnerships with Harmony Valley, Organic Valley, Driftless Organics, GoMacro and others, CHS is able to source local produce and dairy for distribution to local food pantries and meal sites.
Harmony Valley Farm
Harmony Valley Farm is located in the Driftless region of beautiful southwest Wisconsin just outside of Viroqua. We are dedicated to growing the highest quality certified organic produce possible with experience as our guarantee. Our produce is distributed throughout our region through our CSA membership as well as through grocery stores and food co-ops.
In 2024 Harmony Valley Farm donated over 40,000 lbs of fresh and organic produce to Community Hunger Solutions.
Their incredible generosity provided fresh, locally grown produce to thousands of families and individuals through our partnering food pantries, meal sites and food banks.
For more information visit:
Organic Valley
Organic Valley is made up of over 1,600 family farms and over 900 employees, all pooling their passion and resources to bring organic food to the tables of people across the country.
In 2024 Organic Valley donated over 10,000 gallons of fluid dairy, and over 2,800 lbs of cheese and other products to Community Hunger Solutions.
Organic Valley is truly an inspiration to our community. In addition to donating large amounts of dairy, OV also provides financial support for Community Hunger Solutions. In November 2020, OV announced their commitment to supporting CHS on an annual basis with a donation of $10,000 each year!
Organic Valley also encourages employees to volunteer, as a portion of team building activities, and we are always grateful for the additional help
Driftless Organics
What began as a summer project has now taken the shape of our dreams. We manage over 100 acres of ridge and valley fields in the enchanting Driftless region of Southwest Wisconsin. Our farm is called Driftless Organics and beyond our legendary potatoes, we produce fruit, vegetables and sunflower oil that we share via farmers markets and grocery stores throughout the upper Midwest.
Driftless Organics provides support to Community Hunger Solutions via substantial donations of organic produce, mainly potatoes, carrots and beets. We are grateful for their nutritious donations!
For more information visit:
GoMacro
Born In A Kitchen.
Mother-Daughter Owned.
Founders and advocates for a balanced, plant-based lifestyle.
In 2003, Amelia Kirchoff was diagnosed with breast cancer. After speaking with her daughter, Jola, Amelia decided to fight the cancer with a plant-based macrobiotic diet in addition to a local lumpectomy. In the face of adversity, Jola and Amelia came together, fought the cancer, and Amelia won. During her battle with cancer, Amelia created the MacroBar® recipe in her kitchen on the Wisconsin family farm. In the years following, Amelia and Jola began spreading the power of a balanced, plant-based lifestyle through GoMacro’s organic and delicious MacroBars.
Since the brand’s launch in 2004, GoMacro has grown from selling MacroBars in local food co-ops, to making plant-based nutrition bars accessible nationwide. GoMacro is headquartered in Viola, Wisconsin, where MacroBars are produced with certified, high-quality ingredients. The success of GoMacro has only fueled Jola and Amelia’s passion for spreading awareness to the world about the benefits of balanced, plant-based living. Today, Jola runs the business and when Amelia is not tending to the farm, she is working with the innovations team to develop the newest GoMacro recipes.
For more information:
Who and Where We Serve
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Community Hunger Solutions (CHS) partners with more than 20 food pantries and meal sites across Southwest Wisconsin, including Vernon, Monroe, Crawford, Grant and La Crosse counties, serving at least 2,000 elderly and low-income families per month.
These communities include Viroqua, Westby, Cashton, Ontario, Sparta, Gays Mills, Viola, La Farge, Hillsboro, Wilton, Prairie du Chien and La Crosse. For some of these partners, CHS is the primary contributor of perishable items such as fresh produce and dairy.
“The Wilton Food Pantry would like to thank the Hunger Solutions Program for their monthly donation of produce, dairy, and miscellaneous food items. …It’s almost like Christmas every time we receive the delivery. Our pantry has about 18 – 20 families, which is anywhere from 50 -60 people, who frequent our facility. Everyone is extremely grateful for your generous support.”
– Laurie Bever, Wilton Food Pantry Coordinator
Partnering Food Pantries
Community Hunger Solutions delivers to food pantries and meal sites in Southwest Wisconsin, along our weekly route, which includes Viroqua, Westby and Cashton. Once per month our delivery range is extended to include Viola, La Farge and Hillsboro. Additionally, we facilitate pick-up and delivery to partnering food pantries and food banks whenever possible. These partners extend our range of support to include Sparta, Wilton, Gays Mills, Prairie du Chien and La Crosse.
Bethel Butikk Food Pantry
Cashton Cupboard & Closet
Couleecap Monroe County Food Pantry
217 N. Black River Street, Sparta, WI
608.424.4187
Email
couleecap.org/food.html
Couleecap Bargain Boutique and Food Pantry
200 E. Blackhawk St., Prairie du Chien, WI
608.326.2463
Email
couleecap.org/food.html
Gays Mills Food Pantry
120 Sunset Ridge, Suite 122, Gays Mills, WI 54631
608.606.1269
Email
gaysmills.org/foodpantry
Good Samaritan Food Pantry
128 Mill Street, Hillsboro, WI 54634-0389
608.489.3627
Email
goodsamaritan.info
Kickapoo Area Food Pantry
La Farge Food Pantry
Living Faith Food Pantry
Wilton Area Food Pantry
400 East St, Wilton, WI 54670
608.435.6922
Facebook
Distribution Partner
Hunger Task Force
1240 Clinton St, La Crosse, WI 54603
608.793.1002
Email
lacrossehtf.org
“[The patrons] light up when they see the produce we have to offer. Green beans, zucchini, and more… they can’t wait to cook them up!”
– Readstown food distribution volunteer
Support Our Mission
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Volunteering with CHS is an excellent opportunity to give back to your community!
Every week volunteers support Community Hunger Solutions by collecting, sorting, boxing and distributing fresh produce and dairy products from our partners. Aggregation, sorting and storage of these resources takes place at the Food Enterprise Center in Viroqua, WI. This food is distributed to participating food pantries and meal sites throughout Crawford, Grant, Monroe, Richland and Vernon Counties.
There are always opportunities for volunteers to help! Contact us if you’re interested in helping CHS carry out our mission.
Community Hunger Solutions is truly a community effort, funded entirely by grants and generous donations.
Community Hunger Solutions is a program of Vernon Economic Development Association, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The value of your donation is 100% tax deductible!
From major financial contributors to volunteers working a couple of hours each season, Community Hunger Solutions relies on our network of community supporters to provide the labor and money essential to our mission.
While we strive to minimize expenses, the mission would not be possible without generous contributions from grants and other donations.
Your donation, of any amount, helps to better fund our program.
Our Supporting Donors
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About Us
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Community Hunger Solutions
is a program of Vernon Economic Development Association, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are 100% tax deductible.
Our program is supported by over 25 volunteers,
totalling more than 400 hours of donated work per year. Weekly operations are coordinated by Dan Barron, who joined CHS in April of 2024.
Contact Us
Dan Barron – Program Coordinator, Community Hunger Solutions
Susan Noble – Executive Director, Vernon Economic Development Association
Aggregation, sorting and storage of donated resources takes place at the Food Enterprise Center in Viroqua, WI.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, food waste is estimated at between 30–40% of the food supply. Based on estimates from USDA’s Economic Research Service of food loss at the retail and consumer levels, corresponded to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010. Food is the single largest category of material placed in municipal landfills and represents wasted nourishment that could have helped feed families in need.
608-606-9144
Call or Text
Food Enterprise Center
1201 N Main St. #6
Viroqua, WI 54665