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Hunger Task Force News & Features
Reno Wright Has Dedicated His Career to Bettering the Lives of People in His Community
As the Public Policy & Advocacy Director, Reno Wright dedicates his time to educating policy makers about the issues community members are facing so they can make the best decisions for their constituency.
Tortilleria Zepeda Brings the Flavors of Mexico to More Households Across Wisconsin through Connecting Farms to Families
Tortilleria Zepeda participates in Hunger Task Force’s Connecting Farms to Families program. A mix of grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and community donations to Hunger Task Force’s Farm to Food Bank Fund are used to pay for every order received and Hunger Task Force also covers all delivery fees.
School Meals Are a Lifeline for Nearly Half a Million Families in Wisconsin
A healthy meal is the fuel needed to start the day. Research shows when children are hungry, it can be harder to concentrate in school and reach their full potential. That’s why access to healthy school meals is an essential part of creating a strong foundation for every child.
Hunger Task Force’s Connecting Farms to Families Program Links Wisconsin Emergency Food Providers with Fresh Produce from Maiv Flower Farm
At Maiv Flower Farm, Pa and her mother grow peas, carrots and bell peppers for the Connecting Farms to Families program. To ensure they can meet the demand of participating emergency food organizations, they dedicate 25% of the farm to growing the fresh vegetables for the program.
House of Peace and Hunger Task Force Partner to Make the Back-to-School Season More Affordable for Families Living in or on the Verge of Poverty
Hunger Task Force and House of Peace help families navigate rising back-to-school costs with free, fresh and culturally diverse food from The Farm and food bank.
Meet No Kid Hungry’s Summer Nutrition Champion Stephanie Young
Summer nutrition takes a community effort. Meet Stephanie Young, Food Service Director at Beaver Dam Unified School District and a member of No Kid Hungry’s Summer EBT Champion Network, and learn how schools can help families access Summer EBT and other resources while school is out.
The BRICK Uses its $40,000 Grant through Connecting Farms to Families to Stock Pantry Shelves with Wisconsin-made Products
The BRICK is using a $40,000 Connecting Farms to Families grant from Hunger Task Force to purchase fresh, locally produced foods from Wisconsin farmers, helping stock pantry shelves with nutritious options for nearly 550 households each month in Ashland and Bayfield counties.
State grant is helping Wisconsin farmers stock food pantries
Hunger Task Force has launched “Connecting Farms to Families,” a new initiative backed by a $2.5 million grant through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The program connects Wisconsin food assistance organizations directly with small and mid-sized farmers and producers across the state.
After a turbulent 2025, Wisconsin philanthropy recalibrates in 2026
Federal funding cuts forced nonprofits to rethink budgets, foundations fielded questions from anxious grantees and donors wondered where their dollars could make the biggest difference. A year later, many of those questions remain, but the frantic pace has slowed, according to several local nonprofit and philanthropy leaders.
Partner of the Month: Quest CE
Hunger Task Force is pleased to honor Quest CE as our Partner of the Month. Year after year, Quest CE employees continue to return to The Farm, contributing their time and energy to support Hunger Task Force’s Free & Local mission.
Senior Farmers Market Vouchers Help Older Adults Access Healthy Fruits and Vegetables
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program helps older adults like Lisa Gross access fresh fruits and vegetables, stretch food budgets and shop with dignity at local markets.
Terry Goins Advances Piggly Wiggly’s Support of Our Mission Through Community Partnerships
Hunger Task Force is incredibly grateful for the longstanding partnership with Piggly Wiggly and the recent friendship forged with Terry Goins to increase the amount of healthy food we can supply to our emergency food network that serves nearly 180,000 households across the state of Wisconsin every month.
Hunger Task Force’s Connecting Farms to Families Program Ensures a Steady Market for Fresh Produce from Orange Cat Community Farm
Connecting Farms to Families supports Wisconsin growers like Orange Cat Community Farm while bringing fresh, local produce to food assistance programs statewide.
Milwaukee food pantries report 50% uptick in visitors. How does hunger impact kids?
Hunger Task Force has seen a 50% increase in visits to its network of food pantries in just the last two years. Hunger takes a special toll on our youngest and often most vulnerable neighbors, according to Matt King, the CEO of Hunger Task Force, which is Milwaukee’s largest free food bank and anti-hunger organization.
Prairie Gold Organics and Hunger Task Force Partner to Provide Farm Fresh Eggs to Food Insecure Households in Milwaukee
Prairie Gold Organics dedicates 25% of its total production to hunger relief efforts through its relationship with Hunger Task Force. Since 2021, Hunger Task Force has partnered with Prairie Gold Organics, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, to procure farm fresh eggs to distribute to families and individuals visiting a network food pantry.
Meet Hunger Relief Federation Partner Door County Food Pantry Coalition
The Door County Food Pantry Coalition is leveraging its Hunger Relief Federation membership to build local partnerships, expand food procurement and bring more fresh, healthy food to families across Door County and beyond.
Mar Mar Lin Helps Refugee Families Enroll in FoodShare for Nearly 12 Years
Mar Mar works to ensure immigrant families know about Hunger Task Force, and other community resources, that can make settling into their new routines and lives easier and more affordable.
Hunger Task Force Connects Thousands of Children Across Wisconsin with Free Summer Meals
Hunger Task Force’s Milwaukee Model is a nationally recognized approach to fighting summer hunger. Learn how local partners, federal programs and donors work together to feed kids when school is out.
Jean Allen and Janet Grochowski from CFI Feed Local Kids Through the Summer Meals Program
Meet Jean Allen and Janet Grochowski of Centers for Independence, longtime Summer Meals partners helping kids access healthy meals across Milwaukee County.
Hunger Task Force Kicks Off the Milwaukee Summer Meals Collaborative on June 24th at Franklin Square Playfield
Hunger Task Force, alongside key local partners, will host a press conference to kick off the start of the Summer Meals Collaborative. This summer, kids and teens (18 and under) are invited to visit one of 130+ sites throughout Milwaukee County for free and nutritious summer meals.
The Connecting Farms to Families Program enables West CAP to Stock its Pantry with Locally Sourced Beef, Pork and Cheese
Through Connecting Farms to Families, Hunger Task Force uses 100% of grant funds to support hunger relief programs across Wisconsin including West CAP which works to promote the self-sufficiency of low-income families in the rural communities of west central Wisconsin.
Hunger Task Force Celebrates Culture Through Cuisine for Immigrant Heritage Month
In honor of Immigrant Heritage Month, Hunger Task Force highlights the power of food to celebrate culture, foster community, and promote healthy eating. Learn how the community nutrition team incorporates diverse cuisines, fresh farm-grown ingredients, and culturally responsive recipes to connect with and support the communities they serve.
MPS students learn where their food comes from
With the school year coming to an end, kids across Wisconsin letting out for summer break. Hunger Task Force is making sure that students and their families know the importance of making healthy choices while the kids are out of school.
Volunteer of the Month: Kendra Hauch
Each month Hunger Task Force is honored to recognize an individual or group who go above and beyond in their service to the organization. From food sorting and building healthy food boxes for seniors to helping individuals shop the Mobile Market and harvesting at The Farm, volunteers help Hunger Task Force feed people today and support our work in ending future hunger.
Hunger Task Force and The Gathering Partner to Provide Free Hot Meals to Anyone in Need
Hunger Task Force and The Gathering provide free hot meals across Milwaukee, serving families, children and neighbors in need year-round.
Partner of the Month: Alter Metal Recycling
Hunger Task Force is pleased to honor Alter Metal Recycling as our Partner of the Month. Alter Metal Recycling launched “Go Green for The Green” in 2021 as an extension of their long-standing commitment to the communities they serve. Alter selected Hunger Task Force as this year’s Milwaukee beneficiary, highlighting our shared commitment to serving neighbors in need.
New Hunger Task Force program aims to stabilize both pantry shelves and farm revenue
Hunger Task Force has launched “Connecting Farms to Families,” a new initiative backed by a $2.5 million grant through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The program connects Wisconsin food assistance organizations directly with small and mid-sized farmers and producers across the state.
Linda Barnes, Hunger Task Force Network Partner, Plans Retirement After Nearly Four Decades of Service
Linda Barnes retires after nearly four decades serving Milwaukee families at House of Peace, leaving a lasting legacy of partnership, dignity and access to food through Hunger Task Force.
Nutrition Education Intern Reflects on Semester with Hunger Task Force
Read reflections from Hunger Task Force spring intern Parker Ilecki as they share how nutrition education, community connections and hands-on teaching experiences deepened their passion for community health and food access.
Meet Michelle Zimmermann, Grants & Prospect Research Manager at Hunger Task Force
Michelle Zimmermann serves as the chief grant writer and prospect researcher for Hunger Task Force, managing and maintaining a calendar of more than 240 annual grant requests and reports.
Meet Hunger Relief Federation Partner Waushara County Food Pantry
Meet Waushara County Food Pantry, a Hunger Relief Federation partner serving 1,200 people monthly with support from Hunger Task Force programs and statewide advocacy efforts.
Hunger Task Force Q&A with Fue Xiong about how we serve the AAPI community
Hunger Task Force is proud to connect many of our AAPI neighbors with FoodShare to make healthy eating more attainable. We sat down with Fue Xiong to discuss this important work.
Congressional Republicans propose cutting WIC by $200 million
A proposal by a House subcommittee to reduce federal funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition assistance program by $200 million in the next budget year was debated in the House Appropriations Committee and approved by a vote of 35 to 25.
Changes to Wisconsin’s FoodShare program set to take effect this year
Decisions at both the federal and state levels are creating changes to Wisconsin’s version of the SNAP program. Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) shows FoodShare had a monthly average of more than 650,000 participants as of March 2026. Starting Oct. 1, Wisconsin will be required to pay 75% of the cost of running FoodShare, with the federal government covering the other 25%.
Hunger Task Force Expands Access to Fresh Food Grown in Wisconsin
Hunger Task Force expands access to fresh food through local farming, statewide partnerships and innovative programs supporting Wisconsin families and farmers.