Advocacy
Advocacy
Hunger Task Force works to end future hunger through advocacy—standing up for those who can’t stand alone. Advocacy is identifying problems and advancing policy solutions through research, public pressure, coalitions and direct lobbying. Advocacy is also identifying and organizing champions to raise their voices to make positive change.
We work with elected officials and government agencies to strengthen and improve programs that feed families in our community, and elevate stories of champions to amplify the impact that policy changes have on hungry families.
Our Story
Hunger Task Force was founded in 1974 by a group of parent advocates to support a school breakfast program in Milwaukee Public Schools. That work continues today and is part of our Mission Statement: “We work to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need today and by promoting social policies to achieve a hunger free community tomorrow.”
How We Advocate
One of the most important ways we work to end hunger is working with elected officials, government agencies and citizen advocates to strengthen and improve important food security programs on the national, state and local level. These programs—including the FoodShare program; Women, Infants and Children; School Meals; Summer Meals; and senior nutrition programs—feed families in our community and make sure our champions have the chance to raise their voices to make positive change and end hunger in Wisconsin.
How YOU Can Advocate
Anyone can be an advocate by speaking up about important issues. We need your help to ensure hungry families in Milwaukee—and Wisconsin, and nationwide!
CONTACT US
ADVOCACY NEWS & FEATURES:
Manitowoc Public School Advocates Working to Provide Healthy School Meals for All Students and End Lunch Shaming in the District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT Jonathan Hansen, Chief Strategy Officer414.238.6478 office | 414.588.7614 [email protected] Public School Advocates Working to Provide Healthy School Meals for All Students and End Lunch Shaming in the...
Student Interns from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Join Forces with Hunger Task Force to Address Local School Meal Needs
Hunger Task Force is proud to announce our inaugural partnership with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee! Cristo Rey boasts an innovative, nationally acclaimed work-study model, affording students the opportunity to offset a portion of their educational expenses...
Meet the new faces of Hunger Task Force
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...
Salvation Army: A Community Champion for Summer Meals in Milwaukee
A Summer Tradition of Giving For Milwaukee, a community where many families are facing financial hardships, organizations like the Salvation Army serve as beacons of hope and service. A member of the Salvation Army team, Kummardar Brodie stands out as a shining...
Meet the new faces of Hunger Task Force
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...
Child Nutrition Organizer Helps Ensure That Every Child in Wisconsin Starts School Ready to Learn
School meals play an important role in helping to ensure that every child starts school ready to learn. As the Child Nutrition Organizer, Tamira Rasco works to increase participation in federal nutrition programs in our schools through outreach, organizing, education...
Hmong American students find their roots in the School Garden through “Cooking with Culture”
This summer, Hunger Task Force piloted the “Cooking with Culture” initiative, a multi-grade nutrition program that taught students from the Hmong community about healthy eating. Cooking with Culture was started to help close the gap in nutrition education among...
Fall 2023 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 the Fall 2023 edition of...
‘I feel thankful’: Family of seven shares how important free school meals are as kids head back to class
By: Symone Woolridge, TMJ4 News As kids and parents prepare to head back to school, it’s important to think about the children who don’t always have access to necessities like food. According to the Hunger Task Force, one in four kids doesn’t have enough food to eat....
Local Seniors Look for Solutions After Badger Box Funding Ends
Wisconsin legislators voted down measure to add funding to the state budget A pandemic-era resource is ending, leaving thousands of people across Wisconsin looking for new solutions. For the last few years, Willie Seward-Fowlkes looked forward to her monthly Badger...
“Meal Mates” Pilot Program Provides Healthy Takeaway Options for Families in Need
For many kids, summertime means food, friends and fun. For families who count on school breakfast and lunch, however, the summer months can be stressful and family food budgets have to be stretched even further. Hunger Task Force is committed – through the Eat Up...
Big Grant to Feed Little Kids: Hunger Task Force Receives WIC CIAO Grant
Feeding kids is core to Hunger Task Force’s mission. And over the next two years, we have a special opportunity to connect more infants and moms to the Women, Infants and Children program. Thanks to a special WIC Community Innovation and Outreach grant (WIC CIAO, for...
Meet the new faces of Hunger Task Force
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...
Summer 2023 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 the Summer 2023 edition...
Meet Up And Eat Up, Milwaukee! 2023 Summer Meals Program Provides Daily Meals to Kids, Teens and Families
With the support and collaboration of community-wide partners and organizations, Hunger Task Force is kicking off the Milwaukee Summer Meals Program this week! This summer, families with kids and teens (18 and under) are invited to Meet up And Eat Up at more than 150...
Meet the new faces of Hunger Task Force
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...
Hunger Task Force Celebrates Schools Recognized in the Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge
School Breakfast fuels academic success! Kids who eat a healthy school breakfast do better in math, have higher attendance and are more likely to graduate. This year, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction teamed up with Hunger Task Force, the School...
Spring 2023 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 the Spring 2023 edition...
Hunger Task Force Participates in White House “Communities in Action: Building a Better Wisconsin”
On Thursday, February 16, 2023, Hunger Task Force's Executive Director, Sherrie Tussler, attended an exclusive conference at the White House: Communities in Action: Building a Better Wisconsin. The half-day conference invited select Wisconsin leaders to share...
Speaking Your Language for Help
Working full-time with two young boys, a child on the way and a child off at college, Sue Vang understands the value and support that family and community members have in each other's lives. Seven years ago, when Sue was in need of resources for her family, she...
Everyone knew extra federal food stamp allotments would end. But the timing couldn’t be worse.
Story by: Devi Shastri, Milwaukee Journal SentinelEbony Williams, 30, and her daughter Schyrinity, 11, stood in the lobby of the Despensa De La Paz food pantry on a cold January Saturday, quietly watching as people bustled past them and into a packed waiting room....
A Uniquely Wisconsin Solution to Hunger
Located in Spooner, Wisconsin, Chieftain Wild Rice and Rice River Farms is a family-owned business, producing its distinctive, high-quality wild rice since 1957. Jill Dahlstorm, the president and second-generation owner, has been around the business since she was a...
Hunger Task Force prepares families and seniors for the ending of extra FoodShare COVID-19 pandemic payments
Due to Federal Action, the Last Extra FoodShare COVID-19 Pandemic Payment is February 19, 2023. Hunger Task Force will begin preparing families and seniors for the ending of extra FoodShare COVID-19 pandemic benefits. On Friday, January 13, 2023, the Wisconsin...
2022-2023 School Breakfast Challenge
School Breakfast fuels academic success! Kids who eat a healthy school breakfast do better in math, have higher attendance and are more likely to graduate. Make this school year the best one yet. Join the Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge and see how easy it is to...
Winter 2023 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 the Winter 2023 edition...
Badger Box Program Will Continue
Fighting hunger isn’t a seasonal issue, but this is the time of year that many people pay more attention to food insecurity in our communities. Sherrie Tussler, the Executive Director of Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee shares more about the urban farm they use to...
Food is a Human Right: Hunger Persists in Wisconsin
Hunger persists in Wisconsin. Throughout the pandemic, a good deal of federal financial assistance streamed to states and communities to address the pandemic’s impact on unemployment, supply chain interruptions and inflation. Free food provided by charities won’t...
Hunger Task Force Unveils Van for Ho-Chunk Nation Health Department
Jon Greendeer, Heath and Wellness Coordinator, Ho-Chunk Nation Health DepartmentHunger Task Force unveiled a newly wrapped refrigerated van to members of the Ho-Chunk Nation. Made possible by a generous donation, the van will be used to support the Tribal Health...
Local Mother Finds FoodShare is a Blessing During the Holidays
Growing up, Nanette learned the value of giving back to her community. Up until her early adult years, Nanette volunteered at the food pantry and soup kitchen in her community, not knowing that she would one day depend on these resources to make ends meet. When a...
La comida es un derecho humano, pero demasiados en mi comunidad están luchando para comprar alimentos.
SNAP, o FoodShare como se le llama en Wisconsin, es un programa federal que apoya a madres, niños, personas mayores o cualquier persona que pueda tener problemas para pagar los alimentos. Actualmente, con FoodShare, las personas pueden recibir hasta $ 250 en...
Replacement FoodShare Benefits
Current FoodShare members who lose food purchased with FoodShare benefits due to a flood, a fire, or other household misfortune, can request the replacement benefits from the State. Per the FoodShare handbook, a loss of power for four (4) hours or more can qualify as...
Hunger Task Force Files Civil Rights Complaint Due to Ill-advised MiLES Closure and Move
Complaint sites institutional bias and continued disparate treatment against people of color, precariously housed and limited English proficient in need of services in Milwaukee.On Monday, October 31, Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of Hunger Task Force, presented...
Milwaukee Veteran Encourages Other Seniors to Apply for FoodShare
Alan, a retired veteran, living in Milwaukee, heard about FoodShare through a friend. “I didn’t know about FoodShare until a friend told me about it,” said Alan. “I might have seen it on TV or something, but it didn’t register that it was for me. I’m single and I’m...
Hunger Task Force Badger Box Program receives $5 Million Investment from Gov. Evers and DATCP
MILWAUKEE – (October 20, 2022) – Governor Evers, along with with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), announced today that Hunger Task Force will receive a $5 million investment to continue the work to eliminate food insecurity in...
Food Is A Human Right, But Too Many In My Community Are Struggling To Buy Food
We do not ask for help. We do not tell anyone when we struggle. Too often, we refuse to share our pain, struggle or sorrow until we simply cannot hold it in anymore. That is, it seems, what it means to be a Black person in America. Too often, we are afraid to be...
203,752 Summertime Meals Served to Local Kids in 2022
Summertime is peak season for childhood hunger as students go without meals they would normally receive at school. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as the Summer Meals Program, provides kids and teens in...
Hunger Task Force Invited to Speak at White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
Sherrie Tussler will join other anti-hunger leaders from across the nation at the White House. On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, Hunger Task Force's executive director, Sherrie Tussler, will speak on a panel during the Biden-Harris Administration's White House...
Fall 2022 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 the Fall 2022 edition of...
Hunger Task Force Welcomes USDA Deputy Under Secretary
Hunger Task Force hosted the United States Department of Agriculture’s Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean during her two-day visit to Milwaukee on September 12 and 13. Deputy Under Secretary Dean was appointed by President Biden to advance the President's agenda on...
Hunger Task Force launches “Food is a Human Right” campaign with mailing to 22,000 Milwaukee County residents
22,000 Milwaukee County seniors suffer hunger while up to $27.5 million in federal aid awaits Hunger Task Force has announced the “Food is a Human Right” campaign, citing recent data provided by the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services. “The State has...
Summer 2022 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 the Summer 2022 edition...
Meet Up and Eat Up Milwaukee! Summer Meals Program provides three daily meals to kids, teens and families
With the support and collaboration of several community organizations, Hunger Task Force celebrated the kickoff of the Milwaukee Summer Meals Program at Southgate Playfield. All summer long, kids and teens (18 and under) are invited to “Meet up And Eat Up” at more...
Outpost Natural Foods and Hunger Task Force Launch Produce to the People Discount Program for Wisconsin FoodShare Participants
First of its kind Program in Southern Wisconsin Provides 50% Discount on Fresh Produce Milwaukee, WI, May 20, 2022 – In just a little more than a month, FoodShare Wisconsin participants have purchased more than $20,000 in fresh produce at a 50% savings as part of a...
Spring 2022 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 the Spring 2022 edition...
Palermo’s Pizza and Hunger Task Force Host “Easter Baskets for the Hungry”
Palermo’s Pizza again partnered with Hunger Task Force for the annual Easter Baskets for the Hungry program. The partnership helps those in need by providing special holiday boxes for local families. Palermo’s employees volunteered over two days to both fill and help...
Hunger Task Force launches “Badger Box” featuring Wisconsin-made foods
Hunger Task Force has been chosen by the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to administer $15 million in federal grant funds to build a stronger, hunger-free Wisconsin. These funds—made available through the American Rescue...
Winter 2022 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 the Winter 2022 edition...
Hunger Task Force celebrates school nutrition teams during National School Breakfast Week
To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast, Hunger Task Force and Wisconsin schools are celebrating National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) during March 7-11, 2022. Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for...
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...
Voices Against Hunger: Policy District, February 2022 – 001
While the pandemic has been an opportunity for the federal government to expand access to nutrition programs, some state legislatures are looking for ways to limit access to those programs. In early February, the Wisconsin legislature began debate on bills that would...
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...
Q&A with Carmen Delvalle, FoodShare Supervisor at Robles Self-Service Resource Center
Hunger Task Force provides one-on-one FoodShare (food stamp/EBT) assistance to tens of thousands of people. Established in the 1970’s, under management of the state, the Robles Center was the first social services office serving Milwaukee’s south side. In January...
Nutrition Education Team shares favorite holiday recipes
Hunger Task Force operates a robust nutrition education program to educate students, parents, and the public about healthy eating on a budget. We don’t just feed our community—we also educate our students, seniors and families about healthy eating and the Hunger Task...
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 brought to various locations over the last seven years and has been seen by countless...
Student DoorDash Program provides students learning remotely with nutritious home-delivery meal boxes
Before the pandemic, virtual instruction was uncommon at traditional school districts like West Allis-West Milwaukee (WAWM). During the last 20 months, many schools have come to embrace online classrooms as a “new normal” and are now providing full-time virtual...
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 Dignity – Hunger Task Force extends our deepest gratitude to clients, staff,...
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...
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...
‘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...
Anthem Foundation announces $100,000 gift to support Hunger Task Force MyPlate program
As part of their commitment to improving lives and communities through strategic programs, the Anthem Foundation announced a $100,000 gift to support the Hunger Task Force’s MyPlate program. Hunger Task Force’s Sherrie Tussler was joined by Ted Osthelder, President –...
Waukesha School Board Votes To Feed All Students
Schools play a critical role in feeding children. For many students, food they receive at school makes a substantial difference in their ability to learn and safeguards their health. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has historically ensured that...
USDA Modernizes the Thrifty Food Plan, Updates SNAP Benefits
WASHINGTON, August 16, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As a result, the average SNAP benefit – excluding additional...
Summer Meals program feeds youth and connects drivers to community
Arriving in a white transit van adorned with “Salvation Army Feed The Kids” decals, Jamal Turrentine and Isaiah Henderson pull up next to the splash pad at Carver Park in Milwaukee. As the duo exit the vehicle, a modest line begins to form at the back where Turrentine...
Family’s passion for cooking together inspires gift for nutrition education
For Brian McCarty, spending time with his children in the kitchen has always been a treasured tradition. With a focus on mastering the basics, McCarty hoped to model for his children the capacity to transform simple ingredients into delicious yet nutritious meals. His...
Hunger Task Force Receives $500K Capital Campaign Leadership Gift
Hunger Task Force is thrilled to announce a generous $500,000 capital campaign gift from the Brian A. McCarty Family Fund through the Greater Milwaukee Foundation to support the development of the new headquarters’ Nutrition Education Kitchen. This humbling gift—an...