A powerful call to action from Reno Wright, Advocacy Director, Hunger Task Force:

Our children’s health depends on us, and today I’m reaching out with an important advocacy action for our community to take collectively. The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program that provides special supplemental nutrition for mothers, infants and families is in jeopardy of not being fully funded for 2024.

WIC has been fully funded with bipartisan support for the past 25 years. However, at current funding levels, it is estimated that WIC will have a shortfall of about $1 billion dollars resulting in approximately two million eligible families being denied benefits this year. For the state of Wisconsin, it is projected that nearly 27,000 eligible families will be unable to receive benefits and placed on a waiting list.

We need your voice.

Although the current funding for WIC is scheduled to expire on January 19, a bipartisan agreement has been reached that temporarily avoids a government shutdown. However, Congress still needs to determine funding levels for various programs including WIC. The goal of our action is to encourage Congress to fully fund WIC by January 19 so that families won’t have to go without much needed nutritional support for their young children.

What can you do?

Call your senators and Congressperson and urge them to fully fund WIC.

(Sample script: Hello, my name is (NAME) and I urge Senator/Representative (NAME) to fully fund WIC to support families with this critical program.)

Senator Tammy Baldwin: 202-224-5653

Senator Ron Johnson: 202-224-5323

You can contact your House Representative through the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

It is vitally important that we use our collective voice and advocate for fully funding WIC by January 19. Your voice matters. Together, we can ensure every child has the chance to reach their full potential. On behalf of the 27,000 families in Wisconsin, your advocacy is very much appreciated.

 

Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization provides healthy and nutritious food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force was founded in 1974 by a local advocacy group who then formed Milwaukee’s first food bank. Today, Hunger Task Force is 100% supported by the community and provides a safety net of emergency food with dignity to a network of 75 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Through legislative analysis, education and community organizing, Hunger Task Force continues to advocate for anti-hunger policy at the local, state and federal level.