Four Hunger Task Force Team Members Attended the Anti-Hunger Policy Conference

Four members of the Hunger Task Force team attended the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this week. Hosted by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), from May 4-6, the conference brought together over 900 anti-hunger advocates from around the country including Matt King, CEO of Hunger Task Force, Jonathan Hansen, Chief Strategy Officer at Hunger Task Force, Reno Wright, Advocacy Director at Hunger Task Force, and Allen Castillo, FoodShare Outreach Program Manager at Hunger Task Force.

The conference featured more than 50 sessions and plenaries with topics ranging from deep dives into the federal nutrition programs—including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), School Meals, Summer Meals, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Women Infants and Children Program—to case studies and best practices shared by food banks and public policy organizations. Other sessions included powerful testimonials from individuals with lived experiences of hunger and the road they’ve traveled in partnership with their organizations.

With recent cancellations to programs like the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program and funding cuts to the Commodity Credit Corporation, issue experts presented on the impact of those federal commodity programs and their key role in not only feeding families but also supporting local agriculture.

A prominent focus of the conference also included the current federal budget reconciliation process. Congress is currently debating significant cuts to SNAP, which would not only increase hunger for children, families, seniors and veterans, but also harm farmers, food producers and grocers across the country. Panel experts and speakers discussed the impact of cuts and advocacy efforts to work to prevent them.

The conference culminated in a Lobby Day at the nation’s capital. Hunger Task Force staff, along with hundreds of advocates, met with state representatives and senators to deliver a strong and unified message to Congress: protect SNAP and nutrition programs that support hungry families.

Hunger Task Force was proud to represent Milwaukee, our state and local Wisconsin communities. We’re grateful to FRAC for convening such an informative and inspiring event and for the opportunity to gather with anti-hunger organizations from across the country to strengthen our local mission to end hunger.

Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.