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RECENT NEWS
Hunger Task Force News & Features
Hunger Task Force celebrates school nutrition teams during National School Breakfast Week
March 7-11 is National School Breakfast Week, and we are celebrating the incredible school nutrition staff across Wisconsin and their commitment to ensuring that students start their day well fed and ready to learn.
Sargento doubles donor support during Match Madness
Match Madness is a community-wide fundraising event in support of local hunger relief. All donations made to Hunger Task Force between March 1 – 10 will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by a group of generous local donors including Sargento, the Brian A. McCarty Family Fund, Zurn Water Solutions and several others.
Hunger Task Force Completes Transition to New Local Headquarters
Hunger Task Force has fully moved its food bank and operations to a new headquarters at 5000 W. Electric Avenue in West Milwaukee. The 120,000-square-foot facility will now serve as the single, central site for all Hunger Task Force’s operations, including emergency food distribution, volunteerism, food donations, advocacy and community engagement.
Applying for or receiving SNAP does not affect immigration status
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security want to make sure that everyone who qualifies for nutrition assistance gets that help. Applying for or receiving SNAP does not make you a public charge and will not affect immigration status.
A Conversation with Matt Stienstra, FoodShare Program Manager
In preparation for relaunching a Voices Against Hunger newsletter, we sat down with Matt Stienstra, FoodShare Program Manager and former Advocacy Campaign Manager at Hunger Task Force. Matt discusses the importance of FoodShare and shares advice for accepting the responsibility of taking on and leading a citizen advocacy group.
Hunger Task Force 2021 Annual Report now available online
Explore this convenient, digital version of the Hunger Task Force 2021 Annual Report! Hunger Task Force is on a mission. We feed people today and we end hunger tomorrow. Learn more about our work last year, our ongoing programs and some of the biggest wins from 2021 in our Annual Report!
Friedens Operations Manager uses past work experience at Hunger Task Force to amplify impact at pantry sites
Aleka Shewczyk is no stranger to anti-hunger work in Milwaukee. Before stepping into the Operations Manager role at Freidens Community Ministries, Aleka worked at Hunger Task Force as a Farmer and Volunteer Coordinator from 2017-2021. She’s continuing to feed Milwaukee neighbors in her new role using skills gained at Hunger Task Force.
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee serves guests with dignity utilizing ‘client choice pantry’ model
Early in 2020, the closure of a long-standing pantry in the Near West Side neighborhood left a noticeable gap in access to healthy food for residents of this Milwaukee community. To address this need, Neighborhood House of Milwaukee partnered with Hunger Task Force to add a walk-up, full-choice pantry to their operations.
Afghan families receive familiar foods from Hunger Task Force
Hunger Task Force is collaborating with the Hanan Refugee Relief Group and Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition to provide customized, culturally-appropriate food boxes to relocated Afghan guests. Culturally appropriate food boxes were delivered to 65 Afghan families who were relocated from Ft. McCoy to Milwaukee.
Hunger Task Force and Marieke Gouda awarded Farm to Food Bank Project Funding
In November 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the award of more than $7.5 million in funding to Farm to Food Bank Projects for 2022. While funding will support organizations across 29 states and territories, Hunger Task Force – and partner Marieke Gouda – are the sole project from the state of Wisconsin receiving funds.
Nutrition Education Team shares favorite holiday recipes
The holiday season is often filled with time-honored traditions that include some of our favorite meals and foods. Our Nutrition Education Team put together some of their favorite simple holiday traditions and recipes to share. We hope you enjoy them – and maybe build some new traditions of your own!
Touchdowns for Hunger celebrates 19th season: Packers WR Valdes-Scantling attends virtual tailgate and Sargento presents $57,300 donation
Touchdowns for Hunger is in its 19th season and has raised more than $1.5 million. On Tuesday, Dec. 21, Sargento Foods Inc., in partnership with the Green Bay Packers, presented a donation to Hunger Task Force as part of the annual Touchdowns for Hunger program.
Hunger Next Door photo exhibit continues tour through Wisconsin communities
Hunger Next Door is a Hunger Task Force photo project that illustrates the reality of hunger in our community. While the project debuted back in 2014, the photo exhibit has been steadily in rotation for the last seven years and has been seen by countless community members, students, civic leaders, legislators and anti-hunger partners along the way.
Potawatomi’s Heart of Canal Street gifts $100,000 to Hunger Task Force and other organizations
Hunger Task Force was joined by four local organizations – Running Rebels, Digital Bridge, Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center and Journey House – to receive donations for outstanding service to children and families during the pandemic. Each received a generous $100,000 gift from Heart of Canal Street. In all, more than half a million dollars were distributed through the program this season.
Raymond James’ Gary Sievewright discusses corporate engagement and personal commitment to Hunger Task Force
Early in his finance career, Gary Sievewright was taught by a mentor that you work hard, and you give back to your community. Now, as Senior Vice President of Investments and Complex Manager for Wisconsin at Raymond James & Associates, Sievewright has continued to live his live by this code. His passion for anti-hunger work has led him to be a vocal corporate advocate for Hunger Task Force for nearly 15 years.
Hunger Task Force Winter 2021 Newsletter now available online
Explore this convenient, digital version of the Hunger Task Force Winter 2021 Newsletter! Read about the commitment to diversity and assuring inclusion at our two FoodShare resource centers, the return of the annual Home 4 The Holidays and Lend a Helping Ham programs, an update to our Mobile Market discount and winter plans at the Hunger Task Force Farm.
Volunteer couple enjoys range of opportunities to serve at Hunger Task Force
Pat and Jay Mierendorf have served with Hunger Task Force for nearly 30 years. The pair choose to live by the mantra of: There are two kinds of people in the world – 1) those that need help and 2) those that give help. “Since we don’t need help right now,” shares Pat, “we want to be the people that give help.”
Hunger Task Force Mobile Market featured nationally on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt
Hunger Task Force and our Mobile Market partnership with Piggly Wiggly was featured nationally on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. We are excited to share this “grocery store on wheels” model more broadly and are steadfast in our commitment to providing fresh options to food deserts – areas with limited access to affordable and healthy foods.
Student DoorDash Program provides students learning remotely with nutritious home-delivery meal boxes
Hunger Task Force, in partnership with United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and DoorDash, recently launched the Student DoorDash Program – a pilot program providing weekly deliveries of non-perishable food items to families with students in the WAWM Deeper Learning Virtual Academy.
Hunger Task Force rolls out Stockbox program to new Wisconsin county with aid of delivery “spokes-person”
Hunger Task Force recently began partnering with Trevor Roark, Owner and Piot of Curbwise LLC – a bicycle-powered delivery service – to “roll out” the new Stevens Point delivery area for the Senior Stockbox Program. Now, Roark will be pedaling on each month through all kinds of weather, providing seniors with the most important necessity – healthy food from Hunger Task Force.
Stories of Those Who Served: Hunger Task Force Honors Veterans
November 11 is Veterans Day, and Hunger Task Force honors those who are serving, or have served, in the Armed Forces. In line with our core values – Justice, Compassion, Stewardship and Justice – Hunger Task Force extends our deepest gratitude to clients, staff, donors and volunteers who have served our country.
Stories of Those Who Served: Hunger Task Force Honors Veterans – Martin McGee, Inventory Control Manager
November 11 is Veterans Day, and Hunger Task Force honors those who are serving, or have served, in the Armed Forces. In line with our core values – Justice, Compassion, Stewardship and Justice – Hunger Task Force extends our deepest gratitude to clients, staff, donors and volunteers who have served our country.
Stories of Those Who Served: Hunger Task Force Honors Veterans – Claire Lederhaus, Volunteer
November 11 is Veterans Day, and Hunger Task Force honors those who are serving, or have served, in the Armed Forces. In line with our core values – Justice, Compassion, Stewardship and Justice – Hunger Task Force extends our deepest gratitude to clients, staff, donors and volunteers who have served our country.
Stories of Those Who Served: Hunger Task Force Honors Veterans – David McCarter, Client
November 11 is Veterans Day, and Hunger Task Force honors those who are serving, or have served, in the Armed Forces. In line with our core values – Justice, Compassion, Stewardship and Justice – Hunger Task Force extends our deepest gratitude to clients, staff, donors and volunteers who have served our country.
Q&A with Fue Xiong, FoodShare Supervisor at Alicia’s Place Resource Center
Hunger Task Force provides one-on-one FoodShare (food stamp) assistance to tens of thousands of people. In 2021, Hunger Task Force opened the second FoodShare Resource Center, and the first on Milwaukee’s north side. Named “Alicia’s Place” after one of the first...
Sargento and Hunger Task Force Partner with the Milwaukee Brewers to raise $60,000 to feed those in need
As part of the Double Helping for Hunger campaign, for every double hit by the Brewers, Sargento Foods Inc. donated $200 to Hunger Task Force to help feed those in need this holiday season. After 258 doubles hit by the team in 2021, $51,600 was donated to the Milwaukee Food bank on behalf of the Brewers.
Exciting changes for the Mobile Market – New Driver. New Schedule. New Discount!
The Mobile Market is a grocery store on wheels that travels throughout Milwaukee County, visiting communities with little to no access to fresh foods. With help from a federal grant, Hunger Task Force discount all groceries purchased at the Mobile Market. Recently, the discount was doubled from 25% to 50% on all items.
Rock group Widespread Panic returns to Milwaukee, continuing tradition of ‘feeding people through music’
Hunger Task Force has partnered with Widespread Panic since 2013 —a total of 25 concerts—to raise funds and food for Milwaukee’s hungry. In total, fans and the band have raised nearly $20,000 through auctions, tabling events and virtual food drives to support the Hunger Task Force mission.
Volunteer Jill Valuch reflects on 25-years of service at Hunger Task Force
When Jill Valuch’s children needed volunteer hours to fulfil the community service requirement at their high school, she got connected with Hunger Task Force. Jill was drawn to the organization and noted that finding an opportunity to fit her interest and skills was a...
Hunger Relief Federation receives support from the Tavern League of Wisconsin
This week, the Hunger Relief Federation received generous support from the Tavern League of Wisconsin (TLW). The league’s $3,185 gift will be used to provide scholarships to Federation members for the 2022 Hunger Relief Federation Conference being planned for next fall.
Meet the Artist: Mariet Bejarano – Holiday Cards 2021
Mariet Bejarano was born and raised in Milwaukee. She is currently a graduate student at Marquette University studying Digital Communication Strategies. Mariet has been drawing since she was young and is inspired by children’s books. Mariet enjoys creating in all forms of digital art including video, graphic design and digital illustration.
Meet the Artist: Joe Meinecke – Holiday Cards 2021
Joe Meinecke is a Producer for the Milwaukee Radio Group and amateur photographer from Muskego, WI. His love of photography goes all the way back to high school. In the past several years, nature, landscapes and birds have been Joe’s chosen subjects. Many of Joe’s photos have also been featured by the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center.
Meet the Artist: Robb Helf – Holiday Cards 2021
Robb Helf is an artist and illustrator from Cedarburg, WI specializing in oil, acrylic, pen, watercolor and charcoal. His pieces have received awards from the Society of News Design, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. He is a graduate of Carroll University in Waukesha, WI with a degree in Commercial Art.
With the 2021 harvest season coming to a close, Hunger Task Force plans ahead at The Farm
The Hunger Task Force Farm is a substantial source of fruits and vegetables for the local network of emergency food pantries and meal programs served by Hunger Task Force. The Farm has been around since 1839 and has seen an end to the harvest hundreds of times. This period, marked by cooling weather and final days in the field, ushers in winter planning and budgeting for the next season.
‘Summer Meals’ provides 200k+ summertime meals for children in 2021
Summertime is a peak season for childhood hunger as students go without meals they would normally receive at school. To combat summer hunger, the federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides nutritious meals to children aged 18 or younger during the summer months. Hunger Task Force administers the SFSP in such a large and inclusive way that it’s often dubbed the “Milwaukee Model.”