SNAP benefits: Milwaukee food donation boxes part of citywide drive
Food donation boxes part of citywide effort
With federal food assistance programs stopped Saturday, a citywide food drive is underway in Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE - Two federal judges on Friday ruled the Trump administration must use emergency funds to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program up and running. As of Saturday night, it's unclear when people will see those benefits – and a citywide food drive is underway in Milwaukee.
Citywide food drive
By the numbers:
SNAP, or FoodShare as it's called in Wisconsin, provides grocery money for nearly 700,000 Wisconsin residents. Nationwide, it helps nearly 1 in 8 Americans.
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Local perspective:
As hyped-up fans entered Fiserv Forum on Saturday, supporting the home team meant more than just watching the Bucks take the court. Boxes outside the arena filled up with canned goods and other food donations.
Wisconsin FoodShare benefits will be delayed, DHS says
The Wisconsin DHS on Friday night announced FoodShare benefits will continue to be delayed, saying the Trump administration must release funds first.
"If you're going to have a big program, you should at least take that program and take goodness from it," said Taryn Sanders.
"It's awesome, it's a great idea," Fawn Hutchinson said. "It's always a thought in the back of any parent's head is where, when they are going to feed their kids."
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Fiserv Forum is one of dozens of locations across Milwaukee where people can find donation boxes. Leaders announced the citywide food drive earlier this week in response to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
"We are going to take care of our own. We are going to need the public's support," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said of the effort earlier this week.
Food donation box, part of citywide effort, outside Fiserv Forum before Bucks game on Nov. 1
Organizers are looking for proteins, grains, starches, fruits, vegetables and other pantry staples so everyone has enough to eat amid the uncertainty.
"Food drives are all the more needed," said Hutchinson. "Donate. Please, donate."
Assistance with food
What you can do:
If you would like to help those in need, there are a number of places to donate food around Milwaukee – including all Milwaukee Public Schools, all Milwaukee Public Libraries and all Milwaukee Police Department district stations. A full list is available on the city's website. The Milwaukee Health Department said Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin will collect donations and distribute items to local food pantries.
Organizations like The Salvation Army, Hunger Task Force and Feeding America have food pantries. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has resources and information available about FoodShare.
In the event of a food emergency, text MKEfood to 898-211, call 211, or visit the IMPACT, Inc. website.
The Source: FOX6 News referenced information from interviews, The Associated Press, the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Department of Health Service and prior coverage related to SNAP and the government shutdown.