After Federal Cuts Hunger Task Force Steps Up With Farm to Food Bank Fund

Hunger Task Force’s Farm grows nearly half a million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables annually – a lifeline for the community and a welcome addition to our food bank’s offerings. On The Farm, over 70 varieties of 28 different crops are cultivated to ensure a well-rounded selection of healthy food for families in need.

Last spring, the federal government terminated the Local Food Purchasing Assistance program, a program Hunger Task Force administered to purchase produce from Wisconsin farmers and provide those healthy foods to families facing hunger. This program was particularly important to small farmers because it helped them have a guaranteed market for a portion of their crops. What’s more, many impacted farmers had already purchased their seeds for this growing season before the program was canceled.

In response to this federal funding loss, Hunger Task Force launched the Farm to Food Bank Fund to keep its commitment to these farmers and so their produce could be distributed to our network of pantries. A generous gift of $65,000 from Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun’s Salinsky Program to Feed the Hungry led the way. “It’s really important that we support our larger community so we can move people and families forward and reduce barriers to healthy food,” said Reenie Kavalar, administrator of the CEEBJ Salinsky Program to Feed the Hungry. “Through our fund, we consistently look at who needs food and how we can support them in whatever way we can.”

The Farm to Food Bank fund is 100% community-supported. All donations enable Hunger Task Force to support local agriculture by purchasing a diverse array of fresh produce that is not grown at the Hunger Task Force Farm and that appeals to the many cultural and dietary preferences of the children, families, seniors and veterans we serve through our local network. The Fund also plays a key role in supporting additional produce purchases, particularly in the wake of August flooding in the Milwaukee area that caused crop loss at the Hunger Task Force Farm. Gifts from donors ensure The Farm remains a consistent source of fresh food for our community.

Questions about the Farm to Food Bank Fund or interested in donating to the Hunger Task Force Farm? Contact Kim Muench, Development Director at Hunger Task Force, at [email protected].

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.