Feed My People Food Bank has ended its regular pop-up food distributions in Eau Claire, moving up a wind-down the organization had planned to finish at the end of the year.
Executive Director Padraig Gallagher said a change in access to a neighboring property forced the earlier decision. The change affects only distributions held at the food bank's Eau Claire facility.
Alongside the change, Feed My People announced $12,000 in additional food support for 20 partner pantries, focused on key partners in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls.
The food bank is shifting to an as-needed distribution model, standing up pop-ups in response to crises or weather events rather than on a fixed schedule, while its facility focuses on supplying pantries and programs across its 14-county region.
Demand remains high: Gallagher said first-time pantry visits are tracking 17% above last year, and the pounds of food distributed are up 24% over last year's 8.86 million pounds.
