According to the US Census, La Cross in 2008-2010 had about 14.3% of families and 24.0% of the population below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
The best way to find out the real story is to ask some clergyman, who have a much clearer view of how much poverty and hunger is there, because it is indirectly related to their job.
Have you ever been to La Crosse? Go to one of the Walmarts and observe things. Tell me if you see any emaciated wraithes begging for scraps of food. You will see far more of the opposite. Poverty statistics coming from the usual suspects tells you just about nothing about many municipalities. Nobody is starving in La Crosse.