For all media inquiries, please contact Kate Kazan, Communications & PR Manager.

Kate Kazan

Communications & PR Manager

[email protected]

t:414.238.6461 | m:414.588.5416

RECENT NEWS

Proposed federal budget cuts threaten the future of food aid. What does this mean for Milwaukee?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to low-income families, stands to lose billions of dollars if a federal budget proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives is adopted. Wisconsin’s FoodShare program allows low-income residents to buy healthy food.

USDA cuts impact Mequon farmer, low income families

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that $1 billion in funding for local programs has been canceled. These programs exist and impact people here in Wisconsin.

Hunger Task Force’s new Southside Community Resource Center allows more families to be served

Hunger Task Force moved its Southside Community Resource Center from 723 W. Historic Mitchell St. down about one block to a newly renovated, larger space at 802 W. Historic Mitchell St. in March 2025.

Hunger Task Force 2024 Annual Report

Explore this convenient, digital version of the Hunger Task Force 2024 Annual Report! Hunger Task Force is on a mission. We feed people today and we end hunger tomorrow. Learn more about our 50 years of service, our ongoing programs and some of the biggest wins from 2024 in our Annual Report!

Creating a Culture of Courage: Jess Pontious of Hunger Task Force On How Authenticity Benefits People and Profits in the Workplace

With over 15 years of leadership experience spanning the for-profit and non-profit sectors, Jess Pontious is a results-oriented executive dedicated to fostering a culture of courage and authenticity in the workplace. Serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Hunger Task Force, she combines strategic acumen with a deep commitment to mission-driven leadership.

Hunger Task Force nears opening of $2.6M center on Milwaukee’s south side

Hunger Task Force Inc.’s Southside Community Resource Center is expected to open in March at 802 W. Historic Mitchell Street. The facility will serve as a permanent south side location for the organization’s FoodShare outreach program.

Hunger Task Force distributes 1,500 holiday hams to local partners for families in need

In an act of generosity, Hunger Task Force distributed 1,500 hams to its emergency food network just in time for the holidays. In West Milwaukee Friday, Dec. 20, Hunger Task Force’s 65 network partners picked up free hams, which will then go to local seniors and families facing the greatest need.

Hunger Task Force Mobile Market Brings the Grocery Store to the Customer

The Mobile Market makes stops throughout Milwaukee County year-round to offer groceries at a significant discount to ensure affordability. It started in 2016 as a response to a lack of access to healthy food throughout several areas of Milwaukee.

Home 4 the Holidays: Join the fight against hunger in our community

Hunger Task Force is proud to partner with TMJ4 and Raymond James for the Home for the Holidays food drive. It’s a way you can help stop hunger right here in our community.

Winter 2025 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 News & Features

Nutrition cubed, plus cheese

Every month, under the CSFP, the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, an organization driven by its mission to combat hunger on all fronts, distributes nearly 10,000 Stockboxes to low-income seniors in participating counties across the state. While not a new program statewide or nationally, it is only in its second month of operation in the Langlade County area.

Hunger Task Force Farm 2021 Harvest Report now available online

2021 was a record-breaking year at The Farm with over 500,000 lbs. of locally-grown fruits and vegetables harvested and  distributed to Milwaukee’s hungry, providing an important source of healthy nutrition for thousands in our community.

Sargento doubles donor support during Match Madness

Match Madness is a community-wide fundraising event in support of local hunger relief. All donations made to Hunger Task Force between March 1 – 10 will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by a group of generous local donors including Sargento, the Brian A. McCarty Family Fund, Zurn Water Solutions and several others.

Hunger Task Force Completes Transition to New Local Headquarters

Hunger Task Force has fully moved its food bank and operations to a new headquarters at 5000 W. Electric Avenue in West Milwaukee. The 120,000-square-foot facility will now serve as the single, central site for all Hunger Task Force’s operations, including emergency food distribution, volunteerism, food donations, advocacy and community engagement.

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 help. Applying for or receiving SNAP does not make you a public charge and will not affect immigration status.

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 responsibility of taking on and leading a citizen advocacy group.

Hunger Task Force 2021 Annual Report now available online

Explore this convenient, digital version of the Hunger Task Force 2021 Annual Report! Hunger Task Force is on a mission. We feed people today and we end hunger tomorrow. Learn more about our work last year, our ongoing programs and some of the biggest wins from 2021 in our Annual Report!

Afghan families receive familiar foods from Hunger Task Force

Hunger Task Force is collaborating with the Hanan Refugee Relief Group and Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition to provide customized, culturally-appropriate food boxes to relocated Afghan guests. Culturally appropriate food boxes were delivered to 65 Afghan families who were relocated from Ft. McCoy to Milwaukee.

Hunger Task Force and Marieke Gouda awarded Farm to Food Bank Project Funding

In November 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the award of more than $7.5 million in funding to Farm to Food Bank Projects for 2022. While funding will support organizations across 29 states and territories, Hunger Task Force – and partner Marieke Gouda – are the sole project from the state of Wisconsin receiving funds.

Nutrition Education Team shares favorite holiday recipes

The holiday season is often filled with time-honored traditions that include some of our favorite meals and foods. Our Nutrition Education Team put together some of their favorite simple holiday traditions and recipes to share. We hope you enjoy them – and maybe build some new traditions of your own!

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 steadily in rotation for the last seven years and has been seen by countless community members, students, civic leaders, legislators and anti-hunger partners along the way.

Potawatomi’s Heart of Canal Street gifts $100,000 to Hunger Task Force and other organizations

Hunger Task Force was joined by four local organizations – Running Rebels, Digital Bridge, Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center and Journey House – to receive donations for outstanding service to children and families during the pandemic. Each received a generous $100,000 gift from Heart of Canal Street. In all, more than half a million dollars were distributed through the program this season.

Raymond James’ Gary Sievewright discusses corporate engagement and personal commitment to Hunger Task Force

Early in his finance career, Gary Sievewright was taught by a mentor that you work hard, and you give back to your community. Now, as Senior Vice President of Investments and Complex Manager for Wisconsin at Raymond James & Associates, Sievewright has continued to live his live by this code. His passion for anti-hunger work has led him to be a vocal corporate advocate for Hunger Task Force for nearly 15 years.

Hunger Task Force Winter 2021 Newsletter now available online

Explore this convenient, digital version of the Hunger Task Force Winter 2021 Newsletter! Read about the commitment to diversity and assuring inclusion at our two FoodShare resource centers, the return of the annual Home 4 The Holidays and Lend a Helping Ham programs, an update to our Mobile Market discount and winter plans at the Hunger Task Force Farm.

Volunteer couple enjoys range of opportunities to serve at Hunger Task Force

Pat and Jay Mierendorf have served with Hunger Task Force for nearly 30 years. The pair choose to live by the mantra of: There are two kinds of people in the world – 1) those that need help and 2) those that give help. “Since we don’t need help right now,” shares Pat, “we want to be the people that give help.”

Hunger Task Force Mobile Market featured nationally on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt

Hunger Task Force and our Mobile Market partnership with Piggly Wiggly was featured nationally on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. We are excited to share this “grocery store on wheels” model more broadly and are steadfast in our commitment to providing fresh options to food deserts – areas with limited access to affordable and healthy foods.

Hunger Task Force rolls out Stockbox program to new Wisconsin county with aid of delivery “spokes-person”

Hunger Task Force recently began partnering with Trevor Roark, Owner and Piot of Curbwise LLC – a bicycle-powered delivery service – to “roll out” the new Stevens Point delivery area for the Senior Stockbox Program. Now, Roark will be pedaling on each month through all kinds of weather, providing seniors with the most important necessity – healthy food from Hunger Task Force.

Stories of Those Who Served: Hunger Task Force Honors Veterans

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 Justice – Hunger Task Force extends our deepest gratitude to clients, staff, donors and volunteers who have served our country.

Exciting changes for the Mobile Market – New Driver. New Schedule. New Discount!

The Mobile Market is a grocery store on wheels that travels throughout Milwaukee County, visiting communities with little to no access to fresh foods. With help from a federal grant, Hunger Task Force discount all groceries purchased at the Mobile Market. Recently, the discount was doubled from 25% to 50% on all items.

Meet the Artist: Mariet Bejarano – Holiday Cards 2021

Mariet Bejarano was born and raised in Milwaukee. She is currently a graduate student at Marquette University studying Digital Communication Strategies. Mariet has been drawing since she was young and is inspired by children’s books. Mariet enjoys creating in all forms of digital art including video, graphic design and digital illustration.

Meet the Artist: Joe Meinecke – Holiday Cards 2021

Joe Meinecke is a Producer for the Milwaukee Radio Group and amateur photographer from Muskego, WI. His love of photography goes all the way back to high school. In the past several years, nature, landscapes and birds have been Joe’s chosen subjects. Many of Joe’s photos have also been featured by the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center.

Meet the Artist: Robb Helf – Holiday Cards 2021

Robb Helf is an artist and illustrator from Cedarburg, WI specializing in oil, acrylic, pen, watercolor and charcoal. His pieces have received awards from the Society of News Design, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. He is a graduate of Carroll University in Waukesha, WI with a degree in Commercial Art.