Hunger Task Force

About one in six people in Milwaukee are living in poverty. That means there are thousands of parents, seniors and veterans struggling to put food on the table for themselves, their kids and their families.

Hunger Task Force ensures that everyone has access to healthy food with dignity, on the day they need it and in the neighborhood they live in. The nonprofit is Milwaukee’s free & local food bank, uniquely providing all food free of charge to the local programs it supports.

“We believe that ending hunger is truly possible through community collaboration. Wisconsinites are the type of people who care enough to help the most vulnerable among us – and that is our greatest strength,” says Matt King, CEO of Hunger Task Force.

Hunger Task Force serves an average of 50,000 people every month at nearly 200 access points in Milwaukee County and beyond. About 30,000 visit the organization’s partner food pantries and meal programs across Milwaukee County to receive healthy and culturally responsive food. And over 10,000 low-income seniors receive monthly Stockboxes – a box of supplementary food distributed at senior centers and directly to the homes of low-income seniors. The organization distributes over 10 million pounds of free food every year.

Hunger Task Force also operates a 208-acre farm in Franklin. The farm is nationally recognized for providing healthy, locally grown produce to hungry people in Wisconsin. The farmers cultivate over 70 varieties of 28 different crops, ensuring a well-rounded selection for those in need. The farm harvests over half a million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition to its food bank and farm, Hunger Task Force also operates a Mobile Market. This “grocery store on wheels” travels throughout Milwaukee County to food deserts, which are areas that lack affordable access to healthy foods. The Mobile Market is stocked with fresh, healthy food that’s sold at a discounted rate. It serves nearly 15,000 people every year, including many seniors.

Hunger Task Force’s mission is more critical now than ever. Over the past year, Hunger Task Force has seen visits to its network of food pantries increase by 35% as rising housing costs and inflation put strain on household budgets. The organization continues to rely on community donations to meet that growing need. Hunger Task Force uses donated funds to buy food, make deliveries and operate its farm and mobile market. You can find opportunities to donate and support Hunger Task Force’s mission on hungertaskforce.org.

“We are 100% community-supported,” says King. “Everything we do is possible through the leadership of our donors. Their support allows us to continue the fight to end hunger.”