Hunger Task Force Partners with City of Greenfield to Help Local Seniors Stay Nourished with Monthly Stockboxes

At the City of Greenfield Department of Parks and Recreation, care for the community goes far beyond fitness classes and summer events. It’s about connection, dignity and making sure every senior has access to healthy food.

Each month, in partnership with Hunger Task Force, the staff distributes between 70-80 free boxes of nutritious food, known locally as Stockboxes, to older adults at a monthly onsite distribution. The Stockbox program supports income-eligible adults aged 60 and older with a monthly box of shelf-stable, healthy groceries and two pounds of fresh Wisconsin cheese.

Inside each Stockbox is a well-rounded variety of pantry staples including cereal, milk, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta or rice, protein options, juice and cheese. These foods are specifically selected to support the nutritional needs of older adults and help them maintain healthy diets.

“Many of our seniors are living alone and cooking for one,” says Kyle Geller, Recreation Supervisor at the City of Greenfield. “The Stockbox gives them easy, healthy meal options they might not otherwise get.”

The Stockbox is more than a critical food resource. It’s a touchpoint. The room where seniors check in opens two hours early to give participants a chance to talk with staff and build relationships with one another.

“People come early just to chat,” adds Kyle. “They sit, they talk and they catch up. It might look like a food distribution on paper, but for a lot of folks it’s a reason to get out of the house and connect with others.”

Many older adults live on fixed incomes and are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation and medication. Receiving a free Stockbox extends seniors’ grocery budget and frees up precious dollars that would have otherwise been spent at the store.

“If someone doesn’t have to buy canned goods or cheese for the month, they might now be able to afford a co-pay or fill a prescription,” Kyle says. “Every little bit makes a difference. That’s what I hear from people the most.”

That balance of healthy food and connection is at the heart of the partnership between the City of Greenfield and Hunger Task Force.

“If the Stockbox program went away a lot of our seniors would be forced to make tough choices. They might have to decide between food, medication, transportation or simply participating in the activities that help them feel connected and independent. The food helps them stay steady. It really does go a long way,” adds Kyle.

To learn more about the Stockbox program for seniors, visit www.HungerTaskForce.org/Stockbox.

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.