Voices Against Hunger

Hunger Task Force is one of the only food banks in the country where half of our mission is dedicated to advocacy and preventing future hunger. Voices Against Hunger needs your voice to advocate for effective anti-hunger public policy! Voices is Hunger Task Force’s citizen advocacy group--community members committed to fighting hunger and acting for change. What do Voices members do? Basically, we ask public officials and legislators to enact public policy that eases or ends hunger. Individuals usually make phone calls, send emails, meet with public officials, write letters, and participate in outreach activities at schools or government meetings.

Voices members help strengthen Hunger Task Force’s advocacy agenda and help ensure that low-income individuals and families have the same access to nutritious food and healthy meals as everyone else. You’ll receive the resources and tools you need to stay informed, speak out, and make a difference against hunger in our community.

Improving FoodShare (formerly known as food stamps)
With a 40% increase in total FoodShare participation in Wisconsin from January 2009 to January 2010, the need is greater than ever for an effective and accessible FoodShare program. Hunger Task Force advocates assisted with the implementation and evaluation of Wisconsin's ACCESS Web site, ensuring it is easy to use, available in various languages, and accessible to hungry people in need. learn more

Expanding summer meals
Hunger doesn’t end when the school year breaks for summer. Voices advocates have been influential in increasing participation in Fueling Young Minds, the award-winning free summer meals program for children. Last summer, Hunger Task Force helped serve over a million kids! learn more

Maintaining farm and fish hatchery at the House of Correction in Franklin
Hunger Task Force distributes over 300,000 of fresh produce from the farm free to over 80 food pantries and soup kitchens in our network every year. learn more

Establishing universal free breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Voices advocates helped Hunger Task Force lobby Milwaukee Public Schools for a $1 million universal free breakfast initiative that expanded from a 6 school pilot program in 2005 to 75 schools in 2008. learn more

For more information, contact Mary Ryan, Organizer, at (414) 238-6471 or email mary @ hungertaskforce.org