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

Kate Kazan

Communications & PR Manager

kate.kazan@hungertaskforce.org

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

Farm-to-Food Bank: How Hunger Task Force Farm Combats Food Insecurity in Milwaukee

The Hunger Task Force Farm is not your average farm. While we certainly grow a bounty of fresh, delicious produce, our primary crop is healthy food access. Over the growing season, with the help of nearly 6,000 incredible volunteers, we harvest over half a million pounds of fruits and vegetables that find their way directly to families and seniors facing food insecurity in Milwaukee.

Summer 2024 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 Delivers Farm-to-Shelf Produce

It’s a typical spring afternoon in Wisconsin at the Hunger Task Force farm, where fresh produce and community efforts thrive. From innovative hoop houses to dedicated volunteers, learn how this farm is making a difference in food security and setting a national standard for food banks.

Partner of the Month: Milwaukee Jewish Day School | May 2024

Hunger Task Force recognizes Milwaukee Jewish Day School (MJDS) as Partner of the Month for May 2024. Fifth to eighth-grade students from MJDS performed a mitzvah, volunteering at the Hunger Task Force Farm and West Milwaukee headquarters. Nearly 60 students and teachers sorted 7,000 pounds of healthy food donations, packed 80 Stockboxes for low-income seniors, and helped steward natural areas.

Hunger Task Force is Ensuring Senior Nutrition and Well-Being in a Post-Pandemic Economy

In February 2023, Wisconsin families and seniors faced a reduction in their FoodShare benefits due to the end of the federal program providing additional assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a year later, the end of these benefits meant a significant loss in purchasing power for many Wisconsinites, including 85-year-old Greendale resident Judith Juszczyski.

The Black Panthers, Joe Ellwanger and the founding of the Hunger Task Force

In Milwaukee, Joe Ellwanger, a former civil rights leader, was approached by the Panthers to host a school breakfast program at his church. Ellwanger and others formed Citizens for Central City School Breakfast Program, which achieved its goal. The group later became Hunger Task Force, a major Wisconsin anti-hunger nonprofit.

Why You Should Sign Up for Voices Against Hunger to Help Eliminate Hunger in Wisconsin

Hunger Task Force recently relaunched Voices Against Hunger – our citizen advocacy group – to create a space to advocate together to promote social policies to end future hunger. Joining Voices Against Hunger is a quick, impactful way to influence effective anti-hunger public policy. We sat down with Reno Wright, our Advocacy Director, for a quick discussion about the Voices Against Hunger and the benefits of being a member.

U.S. Army Reserve and Milwaukee Police Department Host Ruck March Benefiting Hunger Task Force

For the fifth consecutive year, reservists and police officers are helping keep our Milwaukee neighbors fed with their Annual 10K Ruck March! Thank you to the U.S. Army Reserve Alpha Company 3-334 Drill Sergeant Unit and Milwaukee Police Department for making the journey from the District 3 Police Department to Merrill Park on foot during their annual Ruck March. They collected and marched over 2,850 lbs. of food for local seniors, families and kids.

Jon Janowski is a Champion for School Breakfast and the Former Advocacy Director at Hunger Task Force

During his tenure at Hunger Task Force as Advocacy Director, Jon Janowski developed a best-in-class advocacy program that emphasized school breakfast. During his 16-year career at Hunger Task Force, Jon hired and trained more than 16 fellows including Matt King who is the current Associate Director of Hunger Task Force. Jon currently serves as the Executive Director of The Neighborhood House, which is a part of the Hunger Task Force network.

Volunteer of the Month: Don Driver | May 2024

Each month Hunger Task Force is honored to recognize an individual or group who go above and beyond in their service to the organization. From food sorting and building healthy food boxes for seniors to helping individuals shop the Mobile Market and harvesting at The Farm, volunteers help Hunger Task Force feed people today and support our work in ending future hunger.

FoodShare Advocate Mar Mar Lin Lends a Helping Hand to Milwaukee’s APIDA Community

Mar Mar Lin, a FoodShare Advocate at Hunger Task Force, understands the struggles of newcomers in Milwaukee all too well. Within the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community, cultural norms around self-reliance and shame can make it difficult for people to seek help. Through her work, Mar Mar combats the complex issues surrounding food insecurity within the APIDA community, ensuring that cultural norms and language barriers don’t prevent anyone from accessing vital resources.

Meet the Team Leading 15,000 Volunteers Each Year at Hunger Task Force

Our Volunteer Team is a dynamic force, committed to empowering and mobilizing volunteers in various capacities. From recruitment and training to coordinating opportunities for corporate groups and local organizations to make a meaningful impact, we ensure that every volunteer feels valued and equipped to contribute effectively.

How Sherrie Tussler Of Hunger Task Force Is Helping To Address The Growing Challenge Of Food Insecurity

Sherrie Tussler is the Chief Executive Officer of Hunger Task Force. She has led the organization since 1997 — a time when Milwaukee was experiencing record hunger. Hunger Task Force works to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need today and advocates for policies that will help achieve a hunger-free community in the future. Tussler has remained steadfast in her goal — to defend people against hunger.

Hunger Task Force Spring 2024 Newsletter now available online

Click to explore this convenient, digital version of the Hunger Task Force Spring 2024 Newsletter! Read about new culturally familiar foods at The Farm, a conversation with Sherrie Tussler and incoming CEO Matt King, Milwaukee’s unique downtown meal site, how we’re providing seniors dignified access to healthy food and more!

Grocery store on wheels makes rounds in Milwaukee County

The Mobile Market is a smaller-scale grocery store. It’s not a food pantry, instead the market is open to everyone. Anyone can show up and shop. The market follows a set schedule and makes stops at various locations around Milwaukee County.

Brian McCarty Hopes to Inspire Other Medical Professionals to Give Back

Brian McCarty isn’t waiting on the world to change. Instead, he is investing his knowledge and resources into the community and encouraging others to do the same. He donated $500,000 to create the McCarty Education Kitchen – a highlight of the new Hunger Task Force headquarters.

Quadracci Family Supports Hunger Relief Through a Legacy of Generational Giving

Driven by Betty and Harry Quadraccis’ commitment to a thriving community, the family’s longstanding support for Hunger Task Force exemplifies their deep commitment to the well-being of their community, extending far beyond their prominent contributions to education, community development and the arts.

Wisconsin will replace FoodShare aid when outages spoil food, but filing requests isn’t easy

The federal government funds FoodShare through its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. It allows states to replace funds for households that lose food to misfortunes like refrigerator malfunctions, power outages or flooding. Nearly 26,000 FoodShare households in Wisconsin received $3.1 million in replacement benefits between December 2022 and November 2023. That’s far less than the up to $34 million in food that FoodShare households potentially lost from January’s storm alone, according to a state estimate.

Spring 2024 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.

Partner of the Month: Hmong American Friendship Association | April 2024

So far this year, HAFA has served more than 1,961 individuals at its client choice food pantry at which shoppers can select the items they wish to eat from the pantry shelves. This operation model has preserved dignity by letting clients decide what they want to eat and improved service quality and can reduce food waste.

Volunteer of the Month: Nate Koch | April 2024

Each month Hunger Task Force is honored to recognize an individual or group who go above and beyond in their service to the organization. From food sorting and building healthy food boxes for seniors to helping individuals shop the Mobile Market and harvesting at The Farm, volunteers help Hunger Task Force feed people today and support our work in ending future hunger.

Hunger Task Force Shares Heart Healthy Meal with WISN 12

When stocking its 44 food pantries, Hunger Task Force uses what’s called the MyPlate model, it’s similar to the food pyramid, as a guide for helping people make good choices. “To make sure that the foods that we’re providing are healthy,” King said. “We are committed to using the kitchen as a way to teach people how to use those ingredients.” Nutrition educator Melanie Foland walked WISN 12 News’ Diana Gutierrez through the heart-healthy shrimp pasta dinner.

Alicia Williams is a Champion for Milwaukee Families With a Lifetime of Service

For over three decades, Alicia Williams has been a relentless advocate for Milwaukee’s most vulnerable residents. Her unwavering dedication to anti-hunger advocacy and community empowerment found a perfect home at Hunger Task Force, where her impactful work has left a lasting legacy. This commitment was honored in 2021 with the naming of Hunger Task Force’s north side FoodShare resource center – Alicia’s Place.