In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation, disability, age, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA, or religion.   

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How To File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1)    mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture 

          Director Office of Civil Rights 

          1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

          Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 

(2)     fax: (202) 690-7442; or 

(3)     email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Notice of Beneficiary Rights for Wisconsin TEFAP

• Because this organization, Berlin Food Pantry,  is supported in whole or in part by financial assistance from the Federal Government, we are required to let you know that:

1. We may not discriminate against you on the basis of religion, a religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice. 

2. We may not require you to attend or participate in any explicitly religious activities (including activities that involve overt religious content such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization) that are offered by our organization, and any participation by you in such activities must be purely voluntary. 

3. We must separate in time or location any privately funded explicitly religious activities (including activities that involve overt religious content such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization) from activities supported with direct Federal financial assistance; and 

4. You may report violations of these protections, including any denials of services or benefits by an organization, by contacting or filing a written complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Executive Director Center for Civil Rights Enforcement 1400 Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20250–9410, or by email to program.intake@usda.gov 5.

If you would like to seek information about whether there are any other federally funded organizations that provide these kinds of services in your area, contact The USDA Hunger Hotline:

• By Phone: 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE to speak with a representative from 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Eastern Time.

• By Text: 914-342-7744 with a question that may contain a keyword such as “food,' “summer,” “meals,” etc. to receive an automated response to resources located near an address and/or zip code.

This written notice must be available to you before you enroll in the program or receive services from the program, unless the nature of the service provided, or exigent circumstances make it impracticable to provide such notice before we provide the actual service. In such an instance, this notice must be given to you at the earliest available opportunity.