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.

Receiving Food from Religious Organizations

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

• We may not require you to attend or participate in any explicitly religious activities that are offered by us, and any participation by you in these activities must be purely voluntary. 

• We must separate in time or location any privately funded explicitly religious activities from activities supported with USDA direct assistance. 

• If you object to the religious character of our organization,we must make reasonable efforts to identify and refer you to an alternate provider to which you have no objection. We cannot guarantee, however, that in every instance, an alternate provider will be available.

• You may report violations of these protections (including denials of services or benefits) by a food pantry or meal site to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (below), which will respond to the complaint and report the alleged violations to the USDA FNS Regional Office in Chicago https://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-regional-offices