Providing Meals Across Eastern Wisconsin
WHEN SCOTT MARSHALL was growing up on the South Side, he, his brother and their mother relied on food pantries on-and-off to make ends meet. Decades later, Marshall is now the vice president of development and communications at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, the largest hunger-relief organization in Wisconsin.
“We help hundreds of thousands of people, but when I think about it, I like to think about the individual,” Marshall says. “The way I grew up, now I picture the single mother who is trying to work to keep the heat on, to keep the car running. I don't want her to worry about having food to eat.”
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin buys food in bulk and distributes it across 35 Wisconsin counties from its Milwaukee and Appleton locations. Over 150 food pantries and shelters rely on supplies from Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to continue their work in Milwaukee – and 400 rely on it across the eastern side of the state.
In 2016, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin implemented the Farm Link program. The farm-to-food-pantry initiative uses donor dollars to purchase fresh produce from Wisconsin farmers to be given out at pantries. The program currently partners with five farms, but Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is looking to expand its support of local farmers.
“We're really ramping that program up,” Marshall says. “It's positive on two fronts. We're getting the best, nutritious Wisconsin produce into the hands of those in need, and we're supporting local farmers.”
Due to the amount of food Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin receives as donations, as well as its bulk-buying partnerships with suppliers, every dollar donated translates to $10 in groceries. But inflation continues to stress the operation, from food prices to transportation and wages, and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is looking for donor support to help make that up. “A donation to our food bank is a donation to your community,” Marshall says. “It's going to help your neighbors in a moment of hardship.”
What We Do:
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the largest local hunger-relief organization in the state. Its goal is to solve hunger and address its root causes.
The organization works with nearly 400 hunger-relief programs to provide more than 33 million pounds of food annually to over half a million people across 35 counties.
Where Your Money Goes:
Donations help feed people facing hunger. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin uses donor dollars to fund its Farm Link program, buying fresh produce from farmers to stock food pantries.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin relies on roughly 30,000 hours of volunteer work a year. You can find volunteering dates on Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin's website.
1700 W. Fond du Lac Ave. 414-931-7400 FeedingAmericaWI.org