Hunger Task Force and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center Emergency Food Pantry Have Partnered to Feed Residents in Need for More than 25 Years

Mar 23, 2026

Located on the northwest side of Milwaukee, Silver Spring Neighborhood Center Emergency Food Pantry fills a critical community need by providing healthy fresh and shelf stable food for children, families and older adults. For more than 25 years, Hunger Task Force and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center have worked together to ensure residents have access to fresh and culturally diverse foods in their community on the day they need them.

As part of Hunger Task Force’s Standards of Excellence, network partners must provide client choice – a model where clients can select their own groceries, like a grocery store, rather than receiving pre-packaged food bags or boxes. Silver Spring Neighborhood Center Emergency Food Pantry meets the standard and provides an inclusive shopping experience for thousands of Milwaukee residents who need assistance putting food on their tables.

“Hunger Task Force offers us fresh and frozen food which helps narrow the gap on food equity in an impactful way,” said Devin Hudson, executive director of Silver Spring Neighborhood Center. “From the Hunger Task Force Farm to partnerships with local grocers and food producers, there is always a steady selection of delicious and healthy options for us to offer at the pantry that meet the taste preferences of our members.”

With the increased cost of living, and the closures of two local grocery stores, many residents in Milwaukee’s northwest side are unable to cover all household expenses and do not have access to fresh and healthy foods so they turn to Silver Spring Neighborhood Center Emergency Food Pantry for food assistance.

“Pantry members regularly share their appreciation for having access to fresh produce because these items are not easily accessible due to lack of transportation or personal challenges, “shares Narcis Daniel, Coordinator of the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center Choice Food Pantry.” Our community is located in a food desert area where most residents rely on nearby corner stores or gas stations for groceries. These locations rarely offer healthy and fresh food.”

Hunger Task Force helps ensure Silver Spring Neighborhood Center Emergency Food Center receives enough healthy food to consistently feed all its members.

“This basic need of food security – it doesn’t go away even though we want it to,” adds Devin. “With the support of Hunger Task Force, we can provide food and have the infrastructure to safely do so. We recently received a grant from Hunger Task Force to purchase freezers for our food center so we can properly and safely store more healthy frozen foods to provide to our pantry members.”

Silver Spring Neighborhood Center Emergency Food Pantry is open to its members on Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday from 4 – 6 p.m.

Hunger Task Force is the only food bank in Milwaukee that does not charge for food, delivery or network membership and works diligently to ensure seniors and families can receive emergency food with dignity, on the day they need it and in the neighborhood they live in.

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.