Hunger Task Force and Tosa Community Food Pantry Work Together to Feed Hungry Families All Year Long

For 41 years, Hunger Task Force and Tosa Community Food Pantry have been working together to combat food insecurity in the Wauwatosa-area community. Over the last year, the food pantry has served more than 1,000 unique households.

“We’re grateful for our partnership with Hunger Task Force, which provides nearly 65% of the food we distribute to clients in need,” says Theresa Zwaska, pantry coordinator at Tosa Community Food Pantry. “We strive to provide clients with healthy food choices throughout the year and appreciate Hunger Task Force’s generous donation of both canned and fresh foods.”

Tosa Community Food Pantry has experienced a steady increase in clients since the pandemic. Alex Kustermann, a member of the pantry’s board, credits the increase to persistent inflation and the expiration of pandemic-era assistance programs. In December alone, the pantry served 92 households. The pantry operates using the “choice model.” It is set up to resemble a grocery store with food placed on shelves and in coolers and freezers from which clients can fill bags.

“This model allows clients to pick the right items for their households and helps eliminate food waste,” adds Theresa.

Tosa Community Food Pantry is open on Mondays from 1 – 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 – 11 a.m. and serves residents from the 53213, 53222, 53225 and 53226 zip codes. The food pantry serves a lot of seniors and families on fixed incomes.

Theresa stepped into the role of food pantry coordinator in July of 2024. Knowing she wanted to give back to her community, she responded to a church bulletin ad looking for a pantry coordinator. She spends nearly six to eight hours per week volunteering for the pantry and preparing healthy recipe samples for clients to try onsite.

Hunger Task Force is the only food bank in Milwaukee that does not charge for food, delivery or network membership and works diligently to ensure seniors and families can receive emergency food with dignity, on the day they need it and in the neighborhood they live in.

Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.