With the closing of 2023, there have been a lot of accomplishments and opportunities to learn; we are all extremely appreciative of our community partners, but most importantly to our program participants that sharing their live experience with us has broadened our views and taught us one or two lessons. 

In one sentence, we would like to share what brings the Brown County FoodWIse team joy!

Meeting and talking about nutrition with people in the Brown County community.  I have had some amazing conversations! -Kate 

Learning about different cultures and food customs has been a great experience, I really like when participants share their story and the stories that happen around food.  - Julie

There is so much joy when participants feel welcomed and are sharing and learning from each other. I love when our nutrition lessons “come alive.” It is such meaningful work. - Sarah

It brings me joy to collaborate with a fantastic array of community partners whose missions are looking for the well-being of their audience and finding more commonalities through our missions. - Liliana 

Clarice Martell has been such an extreme asset to the FoodWIse team; she is moving out to another position, and we know she will do great wherever she is. 

I am writing to let you know that I will be leaving the Brown County FoodWIse team. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with our amazing Brown County team and community. In the 1.5 years, I have had the great pleasure of working with many community partners who are making a positive impact in our community. During this time, I had the opportunity to support the work of the Brown County Food and Hunger Network, collaborate with a variety of food system stakeholders through NEW Food Forum, and help support the work of the Community Health Improvement Plan as a strategy lead focusing on ensuring Brown County has an equitable food system. One project highlight is the Keller Elementary Garden Project which was a collaboration between the school, Crystal Brown, and our FoodWIse program. Another project I have enjoyed is working with Oneida Distribution Center Nutrition Education and Julie, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, to incorporate traditional foods and the Oneida language into our programming at the Oneida Distribution Center. The last project I will highlight is the NEW Food Access Map that connects community members to food access resources in Brown, Kewaunee, Door, and Manitowoc. This project sought to bring awareness to the available food resources in our community. All these projects were possible due to collaboration and partnership, so thank you. Wishing everyone a safe and healthy holiday season! Clarice

FoodWIse partnered with First Presbyterian using funds from a UnitedHealth Care grant to bring local produce from SLO foods co-op to pantry participants.  The produce was available over 5 weeks September - November, with nutrition education provided each week.  The food sample included at least one of the available local vegetables.  Examples include butternut squash, fennel bulb, cabbage, and kale among other vegetables.  During November FoodWIse conducted a survey of the pantry participants with 22 responses, to see if the nutrition education program was helpful and to better understand their food preferences. 

73% of the participants responded that the nutrition program helped improve confidence in the use of a variety of vegetables, and 91% of the participants increased or diversified their use of vegetables due to the vegetable offerings from SLO foods.  Participants ranked fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, and eggs as their top four food priorities at pantries.

FoodWIse partnered with Nicolet Elementary School to provide Nutrition education to their families. Nicolet School social workers identified parents who would be eligible for the FoodWIse program and gave them a personal invitation to join in the sessions. FoodWIse offers three nutrition lessons for families whose children are in 4th or 5th grade using an evidence-based curriculum, I Cook 4-H, that aims to promote healthful lifestyles. Each class included information about cooking skills, and they all engaged in cooking meals. 

Six families participated in the series; the evaluation results showed that after their program participation, children were more willing to help in the kitchen, and all participants, adults, and children, were planning to eat more fruits and vegetables. 

One participant stated, "This was a great way to show and teach about veggies to picky eaters."

The warmth of the holiday season brings families and communities together around the table. This season, experience the joy of cooking and sharing by trying some new recipes inspired by our healthy, thrifty holiday menus:

Explore delicious meals prepared with traditional Hanukkah foods like potato pancakes.

Spread the joy of Christmas with favorites like apple cranberry pie.

Embrace the community and cultural principles of Kwanzaa with a nourishing peanut stew.

As we celebrate the traditions that make us unique, let's also recognize the food and recipes that unite us. Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday season!

Community Resource Handbook

The Community Resource Handbook provides descriptions and contact information for ~200 agencies and organizations that serve Brown County. Professionals will find this booklet helpful for identifying resources for those they serve.

Brown County Extension FoodWIse developed this resource as part of a food security initiative. Food is often one of the first expenses to be cut when on a limited income. Increased accessibility of low cost community resources to low income families is one strategy to extend the household budget. 

The handbook is printed as a 8.5” x 5.5” booklet and costs $4.00 per copy.

FoodWIse education is funded by the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program– SNAP and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program - EFNEP.

An EEO/AA employer, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements

Extension Brown County
2019 Technology Way
Green Bay, WI 54311
920-391-4610

extension@browncountywi.gov