Watch: Red tape and SNAP cuts are keeping WI students hungry

By Salina Heller

February 22, 2026

Stigma.

Red tape.

These are a couple of reasons more families may not complete additional paperwork—and that’s leaving eligible kids going without meals in Wisconsin schools.

School staff across the state are taking on the task of helping families navigate the new federal system—one where there are multi-billion dollar cuts to SNAP, which have reduced meal access for millions of children across the country.

To mitigate rising hunger, school districts like Reedsburg in Sauk County are scrambling to feed students by increasing efforts to help—more food pantries, expanding access to summer meals, providing weekend food bags, and partnering with other community organizations.

Author

Salina Heller

A former 15-year veteran of reporting local news for western Wisconsin TV and radio stations, Salina Heller also volunteers in community theater, helps organize the Chippewa Valley Air Show, and is kept busy by her daughter’s elementary school PTA meetings. She is a UW-Eau Claire alum.

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CATEGORIES: Politics Video

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