Armando Hernandez Has Helped Local Residents Manage Their FoodShare Cases for Six Years

Hunger Task Force is 100% community-supported and is Milwaukee’s only Free & Local food bank. Armando Hernandez has served as a FoodShare Advocate for over six years and helps hundreds of Milwaukee residents annually manage their cases to ensure they receive their monthly benefits.

“As I look back on my time at Hunger Task Force one thing remains the same – there continues to be a big need for food support in our community and a lot of people struggle to put food on the table for themselves and their families,” says Armando.

In Armando’s role, he educates eligible individuals and families about the FoodShare program and helps them manage their cases to receive their ongoing food support.

“I try to put myself in their shoes and proactively share what they need to know without overwhelming them. Speaking Spanish to clients from the Southside has built trust and comfortability knowing I understand them,” adds Armando. “It can be confusing with the forms and amount of information needed to receive and maintain benefits, so I try to keep that in mind when sharing need-to-know information with clients and advocating on their behalf.”

One thing Armando wishes more people knew about hunger in Milwaukee is the volume of the population living in poverty. In Milwaukee, one in six people is experiencing poverty. What’s more, one in four is a child.

FoodShare is the first line of defense against hunger. FoodShare benefits are funded 100% by the federal government. In Milwaukee County, more than 635,000 people use their monthly FoodShare benefit to purchase groceries.

Recipients can use their benefits at most local grocery stores including the Hunger Task Force Mobile Market, which our grocery store on wheels that travels throughout Milwaukee County to visit neighborhoods and communities that have limited access to fresh and healthy foods. FoodShare benefits can also be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at many farmers markets most months out of the year.

Armando is really inspired by the community impact Hunger Task Force makes as an organization and grateful to be a valuable resource to hundreds of households experiencing food insecurity. To learn more about FoodShare and program eligibility, click here.

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.