LEADING AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE - PANDEMIC PIVOT: Hunger ...
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ANNUAL REPORT PANDEMIC PIVOT: LEADING AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE
HUNGER EMERGENCY RES
...OUR
CREATIVITY AND
'LET'S GET
IT DONE'
ATTITUDE
ASSURED THAT
SENIORS,
CHILDREN,
PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND
THE NEWLY
UNEMPLOYED
GOT THE HELP
THEY NEEDED.
ESPONSE IN A PANDEMIC
A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
At the outset of the pandemic, a got the help they needed. People
friend reached out to see what not just in Milwaukee but all
Hunger Task Force was doing. throughout the state were given
My response was to reassure him: free emergency food, and then
“We were made for this work.” assisted with finding long-term
support through the FoodShare
and Pandemic-EBT Programs.
The assurance we have offered,
smiling through our masks, has
made a huge difference for the
hungry, scared and lonely people
we help. After months of greeting
the same folks, we have gotten
to know their stories and their
hardships. The food we give truly
matters, but our dependability has
had an important impact in a time
where little seems stable.
Little did I know just how hard Your support of Hunger Task
the work would be. After sending Force helped fuel our abilities.
our volunteers home and directing Know that we are thankful for
many of our staff to work your well wishes! Early on,
remotely, we still needed to get someone put up a Heroes Work
the food where it was needed most. Here sign at our front gate—an
This meant parking lots across emotional gesture for all of us.
town as well as rural communities Looking around at our staff, I
across Wisconsin. It meant am proud and thankful. They
sourcing and delivering food to are, indeed, heroes.
meet a doubling of demand.
Thank you for helping us be the
This has been a year of strength, Hunger Task Force.
fortitude and reassurance. As the
days turned into weeks—and then
into months—our creativity and
“let’s get it done” attitude assured
that seniors, children, people of Sherrie Tussler
color and the newly unemployed Executive Director
RESPONDING TO INCRE
T
he COVID-19 Force and our pantry
pandemic “During a pandemic year network stood together.
challenged when so many of our outreach The network persevered
Hunger Task guests suffered additional under the stress of the
Force and the emergency
food hardships, Hunger Task pandemic, and families,
Force again proved its true
pantry network in ways kids and seniors always
partnership spirit. Hunger
we never could have Task Force was there for received the help they
imagined. us with extra food, patience needed.
as we struggled with
When the pandemic hit shut-downs, and great
in March, local food moral support. On behalf
pantries, soup kitchens of all those that we have
and homeless shelters been able to serve,
suddenly needed to pivot THANK YOU.”
to outdoor, curbside or
walk-up service.
- Rosemary Murphy, Manager
All Saints Catholic Church
Food Pantry
Many pantries needed to
close down due to limited
volunteer resources and
increased need. At one map of all available foods to feed a family for
point, the pantry network pantries and services a week. Our staff spent
was operating at 53% in Milwaukee County. the earliest weeks of
capacity. With program Our team provided daily the pandemic building a
closures and many folks on-the-ground support, supply of 20,000 boxes,
out of work seeking help, monitoring, PPE and which were distributed At year’s end, Hunger
pantry visits increased emergency orders so to pantries throughout Task Force distributed
by 30% during the months that partner programs the pandemic until more nearly 13 million pounds
of April and May. could continue to serve. programs were able to of food to our local
To provide more food to re-open and the network network—3 million more
Hunger Task Force families in need, Hunger stabilized. pounds of food than last
responded to the crisis Task Force developed year, or the equivalent of
just as quickly. We the “Family Box,” which Through the toughest 78 semi-truckloads.
launched an interactive contained enough healthy of times, Hunger Task
20,000
Even as pantry networks were operating at nearly
half-capacity, the number of individual served increased
March April May June July August Sept.
40,000 100%
100%
pantry network capacity 2020
FAMILY BOXES
35,000 90%
30,000
80%
DELIVERED
77%
70%
76%
72%
25,000
67%
60%
58%
57%
20,000 50%
15,000 40%
HUNGER TASK FORCE CREATED FAMILY
10,000 30%
BOXES AS A RESPONSE TO CONCERNS THAT
THE EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY NETWORK 5,000
20%
WOULD BE CRUSHED FROM INCREASED 10%
NEED. BOXES PROVIDED HEALTHY FOOD
FOR A FAMILY FOR ONE WEEK. individuals served in 2020 pantry network capacity 2020
{Pantry numbers decreased in May and June with the increase of Emergency
FoodShare benefits for those two months. {
EASED NEED NETWORK
WITHIN THE
13 MILLION
POUNDS OF FOOD
DISTRIBUTED
TO HUNGER TASK FORCE’S NETWORK.
To ensure seniors’ continued to make its
MEETING safety, Hunger Task
Force began drive-thru
monthly stops, and we
helped seniors shop for
SENIOR distributions at all their own groceries.
Stockbox sites. These
NEED drive-thrus were Hunger Task Force also
contactless with no coupled several large
In late March, 13 public paperwork. Hundreds of distributions—including
senior centers closed vehicles drove through a July distribution in the
down due to the some of our community’s Miller Park parking lot
pandemic. Hunger Task largest senior centers, and that served nearly 2,000
Force serves over 8,000 Hunger Task Force staff seniors!—with $25
seniors each month were there to fill trunks Senior Farmers Market
THAT’S NEARLY through the Stockbox with Stockboxes as well Vouchers. These key
30% MORE FOOD program, and we quickly
changed tactics to provide
as milk, meat, cheese and
fresh produce from the
resources helped seniors
stay healthy and safe.
THAN 2019 food to this vulnerable
population.
Hunger Task Force Farm.
The Mobile Market
Amount of Food Delivered
3M
2.5M
2M
1.5M
1M
March April May June July August Sept.
pounds delivered in 2019 pounds delivered in 2020
STRONG ADVOCACY LE
E
nding future hunger is folk for addiction disorders. Single
possible in Wisconsin adults lost their benefits altogether,
when existing and and seniors received $16 a month
MAY JUNE JULY
fully-funded federal in help. Often times the welfare
nutrition programs are well run office was behind on processing
ADVOCATING FOR EMERGENCY FOODSHARE
and accessible. applications, answering the BENEFITS RESULTED IN MORE FOOD BUYING POWER
telephone or responding to people
Take the FoodShare Program for with little or no money for food.
instance. This program provides
SENIORS RECEIVING $16/MONTH
funds on a debit card that people Since the pandemic work QUALIFIED FOR
can use at the grocery store to
buy foods that respect their diet,
requirements have been lifted,
the welfare office has become
“virtual,” waiving in-person
$204/MONTH
interviews. The highest maximum
allotment has been paid, giving
seniors receiving $16/month up to
$204/month in food buying help.
Streamlining the process has
helped many, and Hunger Task
Force has been present as an active
lobbyist for these simplifications.
When schools closed and later
stayed closed, families who relied
on free or reduced-price school
meals scrambled to feed school called Pandemic-EBT. This
children from home. When program provides food buying
Congress passed the Families First power on a debit card used at
Coronavirus Response (CARES) Act, the grocery store. As a stay-at-
Hunger Task Force partnered with home response, weekly, bilingual
religion, health and culture. Prior Wisconsin’s Department of Health webinars were held for advocates
to the pandemic, Wisconsin Services and Department of Public and families alike to provide
established the lowest possible Instruction to provide education real-time answers to questions
household payment, had work and outreach about a new federal about Pandemic-EBT statewide.
requirements and was screening nutrition program to feed kids
350,000
AFTER THE PANDEMIC HIT IN MARCH
OVER
CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILIES
93,000
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE
RECEIVED BENEFITS
TO REPLACE MISSED ENROLLED FOR FOODSHARE
SCHOOL MEALS (SNAP) BENEFITS
EADS COVID RESPONSE
In late March, Hunger Task Force put together an online map of Milwaukee County Emergency Food Resources to show more
than 180 service points of emergency food pantries, school distributions, meal sites, Stockbox distributions and Mobile
Market stops. The map was updated daily and has been viewed nearly 223,000 times.
180
SERVICE POINTS
OF EMERGENCY FOOD
DISTRIBUTION SITES
223,000
NUMBERS OF VIEWS
BETWEEN
MARCH - SEPT. 2020.
Providing critical, timely information
on emergency food availability was a
true hallmark of our advocacy work
this year. Early and quickly, Hunger
Two new federal nutritional programs—
Task Force established an on-line pandemic-ebt and emergency foodshare—proved
interactive map that offered real critical for families struggling due to the pandemic.
time information on the locations hunger task force conducted outreach to over
and operating hours of pantries
225,000
and schools that remained open in
service to the community. This
required daily and weekly in-person
check-ins with these organizations—
many opening and closing as FAMILIES ACROSS WISCONSIN TO
COVID exposures occurred. ENSURE THEY GAINED ACCESS
TO THESE PROGRAMS
HUNGER RELIEF FEDER
PROVIDING HUNGER
RELIEF STATEWIDE
food aggregators to deliver full
truckloads of food to Wisconsin
communities every week.
Altogether, 3,417,092 pounds
of milk, cheese and yogurt were In 6 months the Hunger Relief
purchased from Wisconsin Federation members also
H
dairies and dairy cooperatives and distributed
delivered to local communities.
3,417,092
unger Task Force Similarly, 14 million pounds of
organizes the Hunger food boxes were leveraged to assist
Relief Federation, a
POUNDS
emergency food distributions for
diverse group of Free the rural poor, seniors, people of
& Local anti-hunger partners color, migrants and immigrant
across Wisconsin. The federation families and indigenous people.
represents food banks, food OF MILK, CHEESE AND
pantries, Tribal Nations and other As lead applicant for CARES YOGURT TO LOCAL COMMUNI-
non-profit organizations that Act funds from the Wisconsin TIES STATEWIDE AS PART OF
impact anti-hunger work in their Department of Agriculture Trade
community. COVID-19 increased HUNGER TASK FORCE’S DAIRY
and Consumer Protection, Hunger
food insecurity in every corner of Task Force received $12.2 million
RECOVERY PROGRAM
our state, and many groups joined dollars in capacity building grants
the Federation to get help with and Wisconsin Food Products
food, funding, and support to build funds. Large delivery trucks, emergency food relief for
their capacity to serve. cargo vans, fork trucks and households impacted by job
pallet jacks were deployed so loss and school closures.
Hunger Task Force directed the members could manage food
donor resources for the rescue distributions more effectively. Looking forward, Hunger Task
of Wisconsin dairy products and Ultimately, Wisconsin products Force will continue to provide
arranged the logistics of the Dairy including dairy, beef, pork, apples, leadership, strategic support and
Recovery Program beginning cherries, potatoes, beans, corn, direct help as needed to sustain
in April. Later when the USDA peas, pheasants, bison and elk the partnerships we have built
created a Farmers to Families Food were purchased and delivered and the effectiveness of each
Box Program, Hunger Task Force to local communities to provide group in service to the hungry.
leveraged relationships with
RATION OF WISCONSIN
50
Since the start of this pandemic, the Federation has grown by
132%
AND NOW INCLUDES 116 MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING 72
COUNTIES AND 10 TRIBAL NATIONS FEDERATION MEMBERS
RECEIVED NEW TRUCKS, COOLERS,
Tribal Nations: Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa generators AND FREEZERS TO SUPPORT
Indians | Ho-Chunk Nation | Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior THE GROWING NEED AND OPERATIONS
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin | Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa Indians | Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin |Oneida Nation
| Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians | Sokaogon Chippewa
Community | Saint Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin |
Stockbridge-Munsee Community
Hunger Task Force helped to
coordinate distribution of
9,195,280
POUNDS OF FOOD BOXES STATEWIDE
THROUGH THE USDA FARMERS TO Hunger Task Force also supported
FAMILIES PROGRAM THROUGH Free & Local partners locally with
$332,949
ROUNDS 1 & 2, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH GOURMET GORILLA &
GORDON FOOD SERVICES
IN COOLERS, FREEZERS AND
EQUIPMENT TO ORGANIZATIONS
IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY
FARMING PANDEMIC
IN A
Farm staff took advantage of
ENSURING FRESH PRODUCE good weather whenever possible,
FOR HUNGRY FAMILIES working early mornings, late
nights and most weekends to
I
ensure crops at The Farm
n spring 2020, as The would grow and be harvested
Farm prepared for another on schedule. Fortunately, 2020
season and COVID-19 cases was one of Hunger Task Force’s
in the state started to rise, highest yield totals on record, in
Hunger Task Force chose to spite of the bare bones team.
cancel all volunteer activities in That yield included new records
the interest of public health and in acorn squash, cabbage,
safety. More than 6,000 annual cucumbers and lettuce.
volunteers form the backbone
of the labor force at the Hunger For the entire team at The Farm,
Task Force Farm. Without the 2020 growing season was
volunteers, a small group of the most challenging Hunger
seasonal Farm hands were Task Force has faced. It was
hired to assist full-time Farm also a crucial year for families
staff in the significant task of throughout Milwaukee, with
managing the approximately record need throughout the
200 acres of crops and natural spring and into the summer and
areas that make up The Farm. fall. It was especially gratifying to
have celebrated such a successful
Despite these challenges, harvest during a year where the
and with a lot of hard work, the need was also so great.
Hunger Task Force Farm had
an extremely productive season, The Farm pushed through
growing and distributing almost notable in that eight Farm staff the challenges of the 2020
600,000 pounds of fresh fruits and five farm hands did the work season, but also eagerly awaits
and vegetables in 2020! This normally carried out by more than the return of volunteers as soon
milestone year was especially 6,000 volunteers. as it is safe to do so.
DESPITE THE LOSS OF VOLUNTEERS,
HUNGER TASK FORCE FARM PRODUCED
600,000+
POUNDS
OF FRESH, NUTRITIOUS
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
TO FEED THE HUNGRY— KEEPING IT FRESH
20,000+
BINS
OF WISCONSIN-GROWN
PRODUCE
“The 2020 growing
season was one
70 ACRES
of the most uniquely
challenging seasons we
have encountered as a
team. While the growing
conditions created an WERE PLANTED AND
abundant harvest, the HARVESTED BY A MERE
absence of volunteers
due to the pandemic
created a significant
labor gap.
13 FARMERS
AND FARM HANDS
Meanwhile, the need
in our community was
greater than ever.
It required an
extraordinary
commitment from our
22 TYPES
OF FRESH FRUITS AND
staff to get it all done,
and I couldn’t be VEGETABLES HARVESTED
more proud of them.”
AND DISTRIBUTED
- MATT KING
Farm Director
TO FAMILIES IN NEEDCOMMUNITY STRONG W
STANDS
H
unger Task Force needed the
support of the local community “During this time, our
more than ever in 2020. The partnership with Hunger Task
Force has been critical. As we
generous and heartfelt response have had to navigate changes in
to the challenges of the pandemic was more how we serve our neighbors,
than we ever could have imagined. Hunger Task Force continually
provides the guidance and
resources that we need to
Thousands of individuals supported Hunger do this effectively and safely.
Task Force in 2020. With an average gift of As need has increased in our
$75, this support ranged from online donations community, we have been able
to remain open and serve our
through our COVID-19 Response webpage to the
neighbors well in no small part
gift of a stimulus check. Local foundations and due to the support we receive
corporations stepped up to make leadership from Hunger Task Force.”
gifts which purchased full truckloads of food
- CATIE BOON
and supported distribution costs so food could Church Engagement and City
be delivered free of charge to families in need. Outreach Coordinator
Anthem established a new signature
partnership and helped keep the
Mobile Market serving food deserts
throughout the pandemic THE WINDHOVER FOUNDATION AND
ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH SUPPLIED THE
VERY FIRST BATCHES OF PPE AT THE START
OF THE PANDEMIC TO HUNGER TASK FORCE
TO PROTECT STAFF AND CLIENTS
Toya Washington, WISN Reporter
WISN 12 hosted a month-long online
drive in April which raised over
$666,890 from nearly
CENTRAL STANDARD DISTILLERY CRAFTED
A VODKA-BASED DISINFECTANT—TO HELP,
7,000 VIEWERS
NOT TO DRINK—FOR HUNGER TASK FORCEWITH HUNGER TASK FORCE
Hunger Task Force is thankful for each individual and organization that came together to help us
stand strong and feed local families during the pandemic.
Outpost Natural Foods, Sargento and
many more made leadership gifts
to provide milk, cheese and yogurt
through the Dairy Recovery Program.
City Lights Brewing crafted
“Essential Pilsner” and proceeds
from beer sales supported
hungry families
Like most events, Milwaukee’s summer festivals were canceled due to the pandemic
and had to pivot. Both Summerfest and State Fair pulled together to partner with
Hunger Task Force for drive-thru donation events in exchange for tickets
to the 2021 events.
SARGENTO CHEESE DONATED 6 MASSIVE
TRUCKLOADS OF CHEESE STICKS IN MAY
AND JUNE, WHICH AMOUNTED TO ALMOST
750,000 POUNDS 8,600 POUNDS
OR 15.8 MILLION STICKS OF FOOD DONATED! $26,000 AND
OF CHEESE 4,500 POUNDS OF FOOD DONATED!
FEEDING THE MOST
VULNERABLE
100%
Hunger Relief Fund of Wisconsin is volunteer administrator of the
a federation of anti-hunger agencies Hunger Relief Fund through both
working to provide nutritious food staff and services, and raised money
to those who need it most: families, for member charities through public
OF YOUR DONATION kids and seniors. This year, the employee giving campaigns. There
FEEDS YOUR Hunger Relief Fund played a crucial of are no membership fees or service
COMMUNITY support during the COVID-19 pandemic, charges required of member agencies,
providing funds for the purchase of meaning that 100% of your donation
food, distribution and emergency feeds your community.
operations. Hunger Task Force is theDAIRY RECOVERY PROGRAM
A CRITICAL
LIFELINE
H
unger Task Force initially committed $1M
to purchase Wisconsin dairy products,
thanks to generous community support.
Dairy farmers statewide received a fair
price for their milk, and the Dairy Recovery Program
played a crucial role in helping some Wisconsin dairy
cooperatives avoid bankruptcy. Chalet Cheese Cooperative, Cedar Grove Cheese,
Yodelay Yogurt, Sassy Cow Creamery, Rolling Hills
Not only did Hunger Task Force distribute the milk Dairy Producers and Marieke Gouda were among
and cheese locally, but worked with the Hunger these groups.
Relief Federation of Wisconsin to distribute the dairy
products to emergency food organizations statewide. Amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, the Dairy
Recovery Program provided a lifeline for local dairy
farmers while also supporting hungry families
statewide by providing fresh Wisconsin milk and
cheese to families in need.
at the end of may, the $2 million
supporting the wisconsin dairy
recovery program supported
the purchase and distribution
of more than
40,800 GALLONS
OF MILK AND
127,250 POUNDS 2020 TOTALS
With the immediate success and appreciation from OF CHEESE TO FAMILIES
hungry families of the program, Hunger Task
Force committed a second $1M to the Dairy Recovery
IN NEED STATEWIDE 276,969
GALLONS OF MILK
Program in July 2020. This supplemental pledge was
possible due to the continued overwhelming support 762,482
of local donors, and added more whole milk; gouda; POUNDS OF CHEESE
baby swiss; and cheese curds, shreds and slices to
the Dairy Recovery Program offerings. 358,704
POUNDS OF YOGURT
In addition to supplying local families with a bevy 98,406
of dairy products in the midst of the pandemic, POUNDS OF COTTAGE CHEESE
the Dairy Recovery Program also provided critical
support to many local Wisconsin dairies and GRAND DAIRY TOTAL:
3,640,682 POUNDS
cooperatives, some of whom would not have been
able to stay afloat. Wisconsin dairy companies likeFINANCIAL STATEMENT
SUPPORT AND REVENUE
CONTRIBUTIONS
Individuals $6,583,361 19.29%
Foundations 4,878,816 14.29 REVENUE BY SOURCE
Corporations 2,782,079 8.15
Hunger Relief Fund OTHER: 1.60%
of Wisconsin 208,877 0.61 EMERGENCY FOOD: 39.27% GOVERNMENT GRANTS: 15.23%
Organizations 401,283 1.18
Bequests 129,875 .38 TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS: 43.90%
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS: 14,984,291 43.90%
EMERGENCY FOOD 13,402,756 39.27
GOVERNMENT GRANTS 5,197,280 15.23
OTHER 544,899 1.60
TOTAL: 34,129,226 100.00%
EXPENSES
PROGRAMS
Food Programs $23,506,801 93.21%
Advocacy Program 697,082 2.77
TOTAL PROGRAMS: 24,203,883 95.98%
PROGRAMS: 95.98%
Fund Development 1,014,110 4.02
FUND DEVELOPMENT: 4.02%
TOTAL: 25,217,993 100.00% OPERATING EXPENSES
END OF YEAR
NET ASSETS: $21,854,524
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mike Zeka Patrick J. Byrne Todd Adams Jeffrey S. Manby Amy Mutziger Steve Palec S. Edward Sarskas
President Treasurer Rexnord Corp. Kohl’s Department Johnson Controls, Inc. Irgens Michael Best &
Quarles & Brady Erica P. John Fund Stores (retired) Friedrich LLP
Jennifer Jones Sandy Pasch Taren Rodabaugh
Anoop Prakash Mary Burgoon Prevent Child Sadhna State Representative Harley-Davidson Joe Yamat
Vice President Secretary Abuse America Morato-Lindvall (retired) Motor Company Wells Fargo
REV Group Rockwell Rockwell Advisors
Automation Automation
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Jennifer Braasch Janice Falkenberg April Klinter Michelle Moran Margaret Mittelstadt Dan Sidner
City National Bank Milwaukee Area Milwaukee Empty Foley & Lardner Outpost Natural Foods Blackshoe Hospitality
Technical College Bowls
Chris Brock Richard Marcus Dan Nemec Gary Sievewright
WaterStone Bank Nick Fallucca Christopher Kuranz Fifth Third Bank Executive Director, Inc. Raymond James &
Palermo’s Pizza Public Table Associates
Allan Carneol Mary Anne Martiny Kevin Riordan
Zetley, Carneol Patrick Farrell Angela Loberg GPS Education Partners The Boerke Company, Inc. Eric Thomas
& Stein SC MRA UnitedHealthcare ComLoan Consulting
Sarah Martis Mike Sattell
Mandy Clarke Angela Hersil Ben Lorber Wisconsin Bar Ovation Communities Tracy Wattron
Direct Supply Rexnord WISN 12 Association AnthemHungerTaskForce.org
Hunger Task Force believes that every person has a right to adequate food obtained with
dignity. We work to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need
today and by promoting social policies to achieve a hunger-free community tomorrow.
Our core values are justice, compassion, stewardship and dignity.You can also read
