Komatsu has Championed Our Work to End Hunger in Milwaukee for 16 Years
Since 2010, Cathy Stagmer and the team at Komatsu have dedicated dozens of volunteer hours annually to help Hunger Task Force harvest fresh produce at the Hunger Task Force Farm and pack food boxes for older adults in our warehouse in West Milwaukee.
Throughout Milwaukee County, one in seven older adults is living in poverty and experiencing food insecurity. Partnerships like this one with Komatsu help Hunger Task Force address the growing need for food support across our community and the state of Wisconsin.
“Early on, our volunteer work started with food sorting and we had great fun with that. Coming out of the pandemic, we started packing Stockboxes for seniors and our team in Oak Creek began volunteering at The Farm and really made it their signature volunteer event,” shares Cathy Stagmer, Manager of Social Responsibility at Komatsu. “If you ask why people are enthusiastic about Hunger Task Force, it’s because the mission is relatable. We all need to eat, and chances are we know someone who has or is experiencing economic challenges that impact their ability to put food on the table.”
Groups of employees from Komatsu have volunteered 15 times over the past three years, dedicating over 1,500 total hours to advancing our mission to end hunger. Cathy has coordinated each volunteer event to connect 525 volunteers with Hunger Task Force.
“Hunger Task Force does an excellent job educating the community about hunger. I regularly use information – shared by a volunteer coordinator or published on the website – to educate my team about how prevalent hunger is in our community and how our efforts are making a difference,” adds Cathy. “This helps employees understand why we volunteer where we do.”
In addition to Komatsu’s commitment to making its community a better place to live and work, volunteering with Hunger Task Force has become a key component of company team building.
“When I’m at Hunger Task Force watching our employees working so hard, working up a sweat lifting heavy boxes, I often think about how they don’t have to do this important work. It’s so inspiring seeing people sign up out of the goodness of their hearts and doing good things,” shares Cathy. “When we volunteer at the Hunger Task Force headquarters, we love participating in tours of the building because those have helped educate us about the breadth of services offered from food banking to nutrition education and more.”
Komatsu encourages employee engagement and offers paid volunteer time off.
“I’m incredibly grateful to our leadership and to the company for having that kind of forward thinking and emphasizing how important volunteering is. They recognize that it is not only important for us to be present in the community but also to provide employees the opportunity to volunteer. Volunteering allows employees to connect with their team in a different way, learn new skills and share their talents with the community. Our employees are the heart of these efforts. Their willingness to give their time and talents demonstrates the power of people coming together for a shared purpose and the impact they create extends far beyond the hours they volunteer,” says Cathy.
Hunger Task Force is grateful for the longstanding support from Komatsu and Cathy to address hunger in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin. If your company is looking for a meaningful way to give back in Milwaukee, visit www.hungertaskforce.org/volunteer
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