Latest news with #HungerTaskForce
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hunger Task Force; key player in providing meals this Easter
The Brief Without the support of Hunger Task Force, places like The Open Door Cafe could not help those in need. The Open Door Cafe is preparing an Easter meal for more than 100 people this weekend. The head cook at the cafe says Hunger Task Force provides roughly 90% of the food needed to serve the meals. MILWAUKEE - Hunger Task Force is a key player in an effort to make sure those who are struggling have a good Easter meal. What we know On Good Friday, kindness was on the menu at The Open Door Cafe. Workers there were preparing for a special Easter meal – full of comfort and care. Open Door Cafe head cook Lauren Baas has prepared for more than 100 people in need in Milwaukee. What they're saying "We have ham, mac and cheese, and casserole. I made a homemade strawberry pound cake for dessert," Baas said. "This is how I get through life. This is the best part of my day." It is a true act of service and an effort to fight hunger. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "The macaroni, the cheese, the ham. Most of it, 90% of it, are from Hunger Task Force. We are very thankful to have them," Baas said. "If we don't have them, there is no Open Door Cafe." Hunger Task Force is a resource the Milwaukee soup kitchen depends on when need is high and while food banks have been experiencing government cuts. "I'm in recovery. I have five-and-a-half years sober and for me, it's a big deal to help and give back to people who are less fortunate like I was," Baas said. "We all can break bread together." Hunger Task Force is also partnering with other groups to provide meals this Easter. What we know Several Hunger Task Force Emergency Food Network partners are hosting Easter Meals this week for those who otherwise would not be able to afford a healthy holiday meal. Find times and locations below. April 15 from 5 – 6 p.m. at Metropolitan Meal located at 1345 W. Burleigh Street April 15 from 6 – 7 p.m. at Koinonia Meal located at 2944 N. 9th Street April 17 from 5 – 6 p.m. at All Saints Meal located at 4060 N. 26th Street April 18 from 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Open Door Café located at 831 N. Van Buren Street April 19 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Repairers of the Breach located at 1335 W. Vliet Street April 19 from 11:30 – 12:30 a.m. at Running Rebels located at 1300 W. Fond du Lac Avenue April 20 from 12 – 1:30 p.m. at St. Ben's Meal located at 924 W. State Street April 20 from 12 – 12:45 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Crossroads Kitchen located at 931 W. Madison Street April 21 from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Harambee Kitchen located at 2600 N. 2nd Street SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News What you can do If you would like to help Hunger Task Force, you can either make a donation or volunteer your time. The Source The information in this post was provided in part by Hunger Task Force.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$615,000 in food deliveries to Hunger Task Force canceled after USDA funding cut
Milwaukee nonprofit organization Hunger Task Force said the delivery of $615,000 worth of food it was supposed to receive this summer has been canceled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture halted funding. The USDA stopped $500 million in deliveries to food banks nationwide, Hunger Task Force said in a statement Tuesday. The funding came from the USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation, which provides resources to purchase food from American farmers and ranchers and send it to emergency food providers. A USDA spokesperson told WISN 12 News that the "Biden Administration inflated statutory programs with Commodity Credit Corporation dollars without any plans for long-term solutions, and even in 2024, used the pandemic as a reason to make funding announcements." "While the pandemic is over, USDA has not and will not lose focus on its core mission of strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets, and ensuring access to nutritious foods." The canceled orders were supposed to be received from June to September, totaling $2.2 million of food for pantries across Wisconsin, Hunger Task Force said. It didn't say which other food pantries have been affected. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, another large emergency food organization in the Milwaukee area, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Hunger Task Force said the cancellations represented the loss of five full truckloads of canned chicken, cheese, milk and eggs and eight partial truckloads of turkey breast, chicken legs, pulled pork and pork chops. The organization said it represents over 302,000 pounds of food valued at $615,000, a little more than 25% of the state's canceled total. Despite the cancellations, Hunger Task Force said it'll have enough food to feed the people it serves through its network. This comes only a few weeks after the USDA cut the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, Hunger Task Force CEO Matt King said in an email. Hunger Task Force lost the $250,000 it used through this program, which it had used to buy locally raised meat and fresh produce that was made available to 114 pantries in 29 Wisconsin counties. "This program was especially important to small farmers because it helped them have a guaranteed market for a portion of their products, which gave them the security to scale up and expand their business," King said. "Despite this setback, we will continue to prioritize access to healthy food and support Wisconsin farmers through our work." More: What to know about Wisconsin program, dumped by Trump, that put farm food in pantries and schools This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: USDA cuts funding for $615,000 in food deliveries to Hunger Task Force
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
USDA local food bank funding cuts; Hunger Task Force weighs in
The Brief The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting federal programs that provided funding to local food banks. The Hunger Task Force said it's seen a 30% increase in people turning to food pantries for help in just the last year. The USDA said it has more than a dozen other programs in place and just last week, it released over half a billion in funds to pay for food already purchased. MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin is known for its agriculture, but some local farmers are facing uncertainty as the Trump administration announced another round of programs that are on the chopping block. What we know A local food grant program that was created during the COVID-19 pandemic is ending. Local farmers sell their food to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the food is distributed to local food programs. But federal cuts mean that agreement is ending, as the growing season has already started. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Local perspective Milwaukee's Hunger Task Force CEO Matt King said they've been monitoring federal policy changes from the Trump administration daily. The one hitting close to home is the USDA canceling the federal program that allows states to buy locally-grown food for food banks. "It's a significant setback for Wisconsin producers in particular," King said. "Last year, Hunger Task Force used $250,000 of these USDA funds to support local Wisconsin producers, and specifically we purchased meat, and fresh fruits and vegetables and made them available to 114 pantries across 29 counties in Wisconsin." Dig deeper The Hunger Task Force said it's seen a 30% increase in people turning to food pantries for help in just the last year. King said dozens of local farmers participate in the program, and they've already started planting their crops. Now, they are uneasy as doubts hang over the future of the program. But the Hunger Task Force said it will continue to purchase from local producers. "Now they face some relative uncertainty with regards to their markets and whether they will have the markets for their products that they anticipated," King said. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android The other side The USDA said it has more than a dozen other programs in place and just last week, it released over half a billion in funds to pay for food already purchased. In a statement to FOX6, the USDA said: "As a pandemic-era program, LFPA will now be sunsetted at the end of the performance period, marking a return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives. This isn't an abrupt shift—just last week, USDA released over half a billion in previously obligated funds for LFPA and LFS to fulfill existing commitments and support ongoing local food purchases. With 16 robust nutrition programs in place, USDA remains focused on its core mission: strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets, and ensuring access to nutritious food. Unlike the Biden Administration, which funneled billions in CCC funds into short-term programs with no plan for longevity, USDA is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact. The COVID era is over—USDA's approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward." The Source FOX6 News got information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and from the Hunger Task Force.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Resurrection Food Pantry helps hundreds become self-sufficient
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The Resurrection Food Pantry recently reached a milestone—not only for the number of families it has helped with healthy, free food but also for the families it has helped become self-sufficient. 'When I started volunteering at this pantry, we were a small congregation and were not able to keep up with the demands,' recalled Food Pantry Manager Larry Peterson. 'So, I went to four other churches in the area, and three of them said, 'We'll help support this.' One of them wanted to build their own pantry but said, 'Our neighborhood doesn't need a pantry, so we'll adopt you.' They currently contribute half of my operating budget.' Wisconsin Lottery launches Fast Play Games with instant wins, progressive jackpot In January, the pantry helped 321 households, or 900 individuals. This followed an incredible 2024, during which they distributed 271,465 pounds of food. Over the past two years, they have also helped 602 households become self-sufficient, meaning they no longer need the pantry. It is a key goal as part of the Hunger Task Force Hunger Relief Federation, organized by Hunger Task Force. Brewers announce pair of postgame concerts featuring Nelly, DJ Diesel (Shaq) 'The primary way we do that is by connecting people to FoodShare, which is also known as SNAP,' explained Hunger Task Force Executive Director Matt King. 'It's called SNAP across the country. In Wisconsin, it's known as FoodShare. It gives families who qualify a grocery benefit to buy food that is culturally and nutritionally relevant for their family.' Anybody running a pantry will tell you that it is not supposed to be an ongoing source of food. Rather, it is a safety net for emergencies and that first dignified step back. 'Helping people when they fall, as good neighbors do,' added King. 'So they can transition from that hard time back to good times.' Local 5's Michele McCormack saw this work firsthand when she worked for Hunger Task Force before joining WFRV. DNR to reopen Potawatomi State Park's observation tower The food pantry at Resurrection is open in the morning on the first, second and third Thursdays starting at 9:30 a.m. It is open in the evening on the fourth and fifth Thursdays starting at 5:30 p.m. It is located at 1024 Shawano Ave. in Green Bay. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hunger Task Force's new Southside Community Resource Center allows more families to be served
Hunger Task Force has moved its Southside Community Resource Center to a new, larger space. Physically, the Milwaukee-based anti-hunger and nutrition advocacy organization has only shifted its resource center about a block down the street ― you can see the old building out the windows of the new office. However, Hunger Task Force CEO Matt King said the newly renovated, 7,000-square-foot space at 802 W. Historic Mitchell St. will allow the organization to improve the way it serves its clients in a big way. For 15 years, Hunger Task Force has helped clients and families in the Historic Mitchell Street area apply for and access FoodShare benefits, Wisconsin's version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The resource center also connects clients to other benefits and resources like health insurance, job training, rental and energy assistance and child care, King said. Hunger Task Force operates a similar resource center on Milwaukee's north side at 4144 N. 56th St. Many of the center's clients travel by foot or bus, so moving just down the road was intentional, King said. "The community has really come to know and trust our staff, and, as the need has grown, ... that drove the need for us to invest into this new space," he said. "We're committed to this district, this neighborhood, and so we intentionally looked to stay close by for our clients." Most of the center's staff have relocated to the new location, but, for the next couple weeks, a few will remain at the old building to redirect clients, King said. Staff will also put up signs informing people that the center has moved "behind you across the street." The center serves about 1,000 people per month ― a number that's climbed, especially in the last two years, as people increasingly struggle with the high costs of housing, rent, groceries and other items, King said. "We have seen a tremendous increase in need over the last few years and a lot of families coming in for help. There's a lot of need for other resources, even beyond food. So, this expanded space will double what we have, compared to our previous facility." The space also features a family waiting area with children's books and toys and has private rooms for staff members to meet with clients. "There are a lot of situations where guests have experienced some sort of trauma or acute stress, so, for them to be able to have a separate space where staff can take them can give them the privacy and dignity they deserve to understand their situation and meet them where they're at," King said. The resource center is equipped with all the necessary technology ― including computers, phones, copy and fax machines, and printers ― for people to find and apply for resources and benefits. Staff are available to guide and educate people on the technology and navigating the benefits systems, King said, but clients can also come in and use the technology themselves; no appointment is needed. The new facility allows up to 20 people to be served at once, including at 10 self-service station computers ― double the number of self-service stations at the old building. There's no income restriction to use the space, but many of the benefit and resource programs have restrictions, King said. At the new center, Hunger Task Force has also debuted live translation technology to help communicate with clients who don't speak any of the over 10 languages spoken by staff, King said. Historic Mitchell Street Business Improvement District executive director Nancy Bush helped Hunger Task Force find the building, which it bought in July, King said. Renovations started in September and will continue for the next few weeks. "It was a substantial overhaul and improvement; we essentially gutted the space ...," King said. "It needed quite a bit of TLC. We opened it up to be able to have the entire Mitchell Street side open, inviting and visible for people." The renovation also added a large breakroom where staff can watch television, eat and relax. "Those who work here end up taking on a lot and are helping a lot of people who are going through stress and traumatic circumstances," King said. "It was really important for us, when envisioning this space, to make sure that our staff had a place where they could go and recharge. ... It's a space that's befitting of their incredible work and commitment to the mission." Hunger Task Force's Southside Community Resource Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information can be found at This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hunger Task Force Mitchell Street resource center moves to new building
