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Hunger Task Force News & Features
Milwaukee County’s low-income seniors may struggle to afford fresh produce. But this program is a big help..
Hunger Task Force wants to make sure Milwaukee County seniors have fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program helps provide access to healthy fresh produce. The local food bank is providing $45 vouchers to low-income seniors, which can be used to buy produce at participating farmers markets, roadside produce stands and community-supported agriculture programs.
Hunger Task Force Welcomes Three Summer Interns
The principal strength of Hunger Task Force is its compassionate and committed staff. As an anti-hunger organization, Hunger Task Force commits to hiring staff with an array of skills, talents and the cultural competence to best serve our diverse community. Hunger Task Force is excited to welcome three summer interns – Nina, Nadia and Ashlyn – as they assist Hunger Task Force in our mission to end hunger in Milwaukee.
Sally Callan Enhanced Nutritious Options for Families Through Her Work on the Hunger Task Force Board of Directors
For over three decades, Sally Callan served on the Hunger Task Force Board of Directors. Joining the board in 1977, she witnessed the organization’s evolution from grassroots advocacy to Milwaukee’s only Free & Local food bank. As a nutritionist for the WIC program, Sally championed initiatives ensuring high-quality food distribution, significantly impacting health outcomes. Her commitment to education, community collaboration, and equitable service continues to inspire and drive Hunger Task Force’s mission today.
Jon “White Feather” Greendeer Champions “Food is Our Medicine” Mission for Ho-Chunk Nation
Jon “White Feather” Greendeer, President of the Ho-Chunk Nation, champions indigenous food systems, stating, “In our culture, our food is our medicine.” His initiatives have fostered local tribal growers and strengthened partnerships like that with Hunger Task Force, enhancing food security and preserving cultural heritage amidst challenges faced by rural communities.
Meet Our Hunger Relief Federation Member Antigo Community Food Pantry
The Antigo Food Pantry, part of the Hunger Relief Federation, has been aiding Langley County for eight years by distributing nutritious food with dignity to those in need. Focused on balanced nutrition, the pantry follows the USDA MyPlate policy, providing fresh fruits and vegetables while limiting unhealthy options. In 2024 alone, they have served over 1,181 individuals and welcomed 57 new households.
FoodShare Advocates Are Helping College Students Enroll in FoodShare
FoodShare serves as the frontline defense against hunger. At Hunger Task Force, our dedicated team of FoodShare Advocates works tirelessly to enroll eligible individuals in the program at no cost. Our advocates understand the unique challenges faced by these communities and strive to make food security accessible and affordable for all.
Volunteer of the Month: John Bayer | July 2024
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.
Brenna Holly and the team at Johnson Controls Are Key to Combatting Food Insecurity
Brenna Holly, senior director of corporate philanthropy, joined Johnson Controls in 2022. Since she joined the team, the Johnson Controls Foundation, Johnson Controls and its employees have collectively donated nearly $250,000 to combat food insecurity in Milwaukee. In addition, Johnson Controls employees have volunteered over 1,300 hours at Hunger Task Force these last two years.
Hunger Task Force Summer 2024 Newsletter now available online
Click to explore this convenient, digital version of the Hunger Task Force Summer 2024 Newsletter! Learn more about Summer Meals for kids and see the “Milwaukee Model” in action, explore The Farm from above and join us in welcoming Matt King as the new CEO.
Food Deserts: Matt King of Hunger Task Force On How They Are Helping To Address The Problem of People Having Limited Access to Healthy & Affordable Food Options
In many parts of the United States, food deserts create significant health and social problems by limiting access to healthy and affordable food. In Medium’s series, “Food Deserts: How We Are Helping To Address The Problem of People Having Limited Access to Healthy & Affordable Food Options,” they talk to leaders like Matt King, CEO of Hunger Task Force, about their initiatives to combat this crisis.
Gary Sievewright Jumpstarted the Financial Support Hunger Task Force Receives from Raymond James & Associates
Gary Sievewright, the Managing Director for Raymond James & Associates, is a champion of Hunger Task Force. After he was relocated to Milwaukee and later accepted a job with Raymond James & Associates, he played a pivotal role in launching the Home 4 the Holidays campaign with Hunger Task Force and TMJ4.
Bay View Community Center Food Pantry Expands Fresh Offerings Through Gardening
The Bay View Community Center (BVCC) Food Pantry, a long-time partner of the Hunger Task Force, serves over 300 households each month. While the gardens at BVCC are a recent addition, offering fresh food has always been a priority for the center’s food pantry. Fresh produce and herbs from the BVCC gardens are distributed through the food pantry and a roadside stand outside the center.
Sprouting Healthy Habits: Garden-to-Plate Program Nurtures Young Chefs
Summertime is here, and Hunger Task Force is celebrating the incredible success of our Garden-to-Plate program! This year, the program reached 356 students across 14 classrooms in the West Allis-West Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public Schools districts. With a focus on MyPlate lessons and interactive learning, students learned about healthy eating and cooking through classroom visits, kitchen practice, and hands-on gardening.
Margaret Mittelstadt and Outpost Natural Foods’ Commitment to Ending Hunger
Discover how Margaret Mittelstat and Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative are committed to ending hunger in Milwaukee. Through innovative programs and partnerships, they strive to ensure access to healthy food for all residents.
Hunger Task Force Receives $20,650 Donation From Cousins Subs
Cousins Subs generously donated $20,650 through the Block Out Hunger Campaign to Hunger Task Force to help feed children and families experiencing hunger in the Milwaukee Community. Through the campaign, Cousins Subs, through its Make It Better Foundation, donates $50 to Hunger Task Force for every block the Milwaukee Bucks have during the regular season.
Hunger Task Force Heads to Washington D.C. for Anti-Hunger Policy Conference
Explore the key takeaways from the Food Research & Action Center’s National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference attended by the Hunger Task Force team. Learn about their insights on SNAP, the Farm Bill, and innovative anti-hunger strategies to ensure meals for all.
Partner of the Month: Clinton & Bernice Rose Senior Center | June 2024
Hunger Task Force is proud to name Clinton & Bernice Rose Senior Center our Partner of the Month for June 2024. This collaboration offers nutritious food options through programs like Stockbox and Farmers Market vouchers, along with social activities and a welcoming environment.
Michael Jonas Has Overseen Food Bank Operations for 15 Years
Hunger Task Force, Milwaukee’s only Free & Local food bank, ensures nutritious food reaches families and seniors in need. Led by Food Bank Director Michael Jonas, the organization has significantly improved food distribution and service quality over the past 15 years.
Kohl’s Commitment to the Hunger Task Force Mission: Q&A with Tom Kingsbury, CEO
Discover how Kohl’s is making a difference in the fight against hunger through their partnership with Hunger Task Force. Read our Q&A blog with Kohl’s CEO Tom Kingsbury for insights on their longstanding support, mission to end hunger, and how you can get involved.
Volunteer of the Month: Julie Nichols | June 2024
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.
Celebrating Sherrie Tussler’s 27-Year Legacy of Innovation and Leadership at Hunger Task Force
Discover the incredible legacy of Sherrie Tussler, CEO of Hunger Task Force, as we celebrate her 27 years of innovative leadership and unwavering dedication to fighting hunger in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Explore her transformative impact and enduring commitment to food security
Sherrie Tussler, retiring head of Hunger Task Force, reflects on wins, losses, and why we’ve normalized poverty
Sherrie Tussler, a champion for Milwaukee’s hungry and poor, retires from Hunger Task Force after 27 years of service. Discover her inspiring journey, her legacy, and what comes next.
Congresswoman Gwen Moore Transforms Personal Experience with Hunger into Legislative Advocacy
Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s commitment to combating hunger is driven by her own experiences with poverty. Representing Wisconsin’s 4th District, she tirelessly advocates for essential nutrition programs, including SNAP and WIC, and champions universal school meals.
Farm-to-Food Bank: How Hunger Task Force Farm Combats Food Insecurity in Milwaukee
The Hunger Task Force Farm is not your average farm. While we certainly grow a bounty of fresh, delicious produce, our primary crop is healthy food access. Over the growing season, with the help of nearly 6,000 incredible volunteers, we harvest over half a million pounds of fruits and vegetables that find their way directly to families and seniors facing food insecurity in Milwaukee.
Summer 2024 Nutrition Education Quarterly available online
Hunger Task Force doesn’t just feed people in our community – we help along their health journeys, too. Hunger Task Force offers a robust Nutrition Education Program committed to providing useful tools to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Check out this seasonal edition of our Nutrition Education Quarterly. Explore this seasonal publication for helpful tips on healthy eating, cooking skills, budget-friendly shopping and ways to fit physical activity in your day.
Hunger Task Force Delivers Farm-to-Shelf Produce
It’s a typical spring afternoon in Wisconsin at the Hunger Task Force farm, where fresh produce and community efforts thrive. From innovative hoop houses to dedicated volunteers, learn how this farm is making a difference in food security and setting a national standard for food banks.
Willie Bryant Has Delivered Healthy Food For 17 Years with Hunger Task Force
At Hunger Task Force, our team of route representatives plays a pivotal role in feeding our most vulnerable neighbors in need. Willie Bryant has been a part of the team for 17 years and couldn’t imagine working anywhere else or in a different role.
Partner of the Month: Milwaukee Jewish Day School | May 2024
Hunger Task Force recognizes Milwaukee Jewish Day School (MJDS) as Partner of the Month for May 2024. Fifth to eighth-grade students from MJDS performed a mitzvah, volunteering at the Hunger Task Force Farm and West Milwaukee headquarters. Nearly 60 students and teachers sorted 7,000 pounds of healthy food donations, packed 80 Stockboxes for low-income seniors, and helped steward natural areas.
Helping Community Food Pantry and Hunger Task Force Improve Community Nutrition in Milwaukee’s Harambee Neighborhood
For more than 25 years, Hunger Task Force and Helping Community Food Pantry have been working together to combat food insecurity in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood. A majority of the fresh, frozen and nonperishable healthy food available to clients is provided by Hunger Task Force so the pantry can serve more than 1,000 individuals monthly.
Hunger Task Force is Ensuring Senior Nutrition and Well-Being in a Post-Pandemic Economy
In February 2023, Wisconsin families and seniors faced a reduction in their FoodShare benefits due to the end of the federal program providing additional assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a year later, the end of these benefits meant a significant loss in purchasing power for many Wisconsinites, including 85-year-old Greendale resident Judith Juszczyski.
Fue Xiong Increases Access to Healthy Food for Limited English Proficiency Residents on Milwaukee’s North Side
Fifteen years ago, Fue Xiong joined the Hunger Task Force FoodShare team to ensure low-income residents of Milwaukee understand how to apply for and maintain FoodShare benefits and connect them to other federal nutrition programs for which they may qualify.
The Black Panthers, Joe Ellwanger and the founding of the Hunger Task Force
In Milwaukee, Joe Ellwanger, a former civil rights leader, was approached by the Panthers to host a school breakfast program at his church. Ellwanger and others formed Citizens for Central City School Breakfast Program, which achieved its goal. The group later became Hunger Task Force, a major Wisconsin anti-hunger nonprofit.
Why You Should Sign Up for Voices Against Hunger to Help Eliminate Hunger in Wisconsin
Hunger Task Force recently relaunched Voices Against Hunger – our citizen advocacy group – to create a space to advocate together to promote social policies to end future hunger. Joining Voices Against Hunger is a quick, impactful way to influence effective anti-hunger public policy. We sat down with Reno Wright, our Advocacy Director, for a quick discussion about the Voices Against Hunger and the benefits of being a member.
U.S. Army Reserve and Milwaukee Police Department Host Ruck March Benefiting Hunger Task Force
For the fifth consecutive year, reservists and police officers are helping keep our Milwaukee neighbors fed with their Annual 10K Ruck March! Thank you to the U.S. Army Reserve Alpha Company 3-334 Drill Sergeant Unit and Milwaukee Police Department for making the journey from the District 3 Police Department to Merrill Park on foot during their annual Ruck March. They collected and marched over 2,850 lbs. of food for local seniors, families and kids.
From Classroom to Community: Child Nutrition Educator Inspires Healthy Choices in Local Schools
Through the Garden-to-Plate program, the Child Nutrition Educator travels to local schools, teaching valuable nutrition lessons. This initiative specifically targets low-income youth – equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make healthy choices on a budget – and allows them to connect with the source of their food.