November 7, 2025 Update:

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signs emergency order authorizing the federal Department of Health Services to release more than $104 million dollars to fully fund FoodShare benefits for 337,000 Wisconsin households for November. 

Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

TMJ4

FOX6

WISN12

CBS58

Wisconsin Public Radio

Food insecurity is a reality across our communities. No one place, zip code or neighborhood is exempt. It is a shared experience that touches us all in some way. Our food bank partners are working round the clock to make sure people do not go hungry.

Together, we can uphold our cooperative values by centering compassion, equity, and community when and where it’s needed most. Here's how you can help:

Community Resources – Dial 211

There is no shame, blame or judgement asking for help. If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, assistance is available. The 211 Social Services Hotline is no charge, 24 hours a day, for non-emergency family, financial, health, food, and social service issues. This service is available statewide. Impact 2-1-1 covers Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Washington, and Ozaukee counties:

• Land Line: Dial 211
• Cell Phone: Dial 414-773-0211
• Pay Phone: Dial 1-866-211-3380
• Text: Text your ZIP code to 898-211
• Online search: www.211wisconsin.org
• TTY: Dial 7-1-1 (for hearing-impaired) and request “2-1-1 Wisconsin”

We ask everyone to be gentle with staff and volunteers at food pantries and community organizations distributing food for free or low cost. Many of these organizations are already working at capacity and will likely face even higher demand if SNAP benefits are delayed or reduced. A little patience and kindness can go a long way.

Donate resources

Emergency food banks, like Hunger Task Force, serve hundreds of different food access points across Metro Milwaukee.

• Food banks rely on volunteer help. Right now they are super busy. If you can volunteer your help, that’s great!
• All Outpost store locations have food donation boxes located at or near the checkout or store doors.
  • Shop those BOGO sales and multi-deals and consider adding those extras to the bins.
  • Owners, you get 10% of case purchases. Consider buying a case of canned veggies, breakfast cereal or peanut butter and donate those items to the food donation boxes.
  • Not sure what's most needed? Look for "Great Food Donation Item" tags on store shelves.
• Beginning November 1, you can round up your register total to support Hunger Task Force through our annual Buy A Bag campaign. 100% of proceeds goes to purchase natural and organic food delivered to Hunger Task Force during the winter months when donations tend to drop off.

Citywide Milwaukee Food Drive

WISN Channel 12: Milwaukee community leaders have initiated an emergency citywide food drive to support families affected by the federal shutdown, which threatens to cut off SNAP benefits for thousands.

Financial donations

Financial donations are critical support for food banks and pantries.

• Buy a bowl! Now through December 31, NourishMKE is selling handmade pottery bowls for $25 at all Outpost stores. 100% of the proceeds goes toward supporting their network of food pantries.
• Consider making a cash donation directly to food pantries in your area or to these emergency food banks:
  • Hunger Task Force: www.hungertaskforce.org/donate/
  • Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin: https://feedingamericawi.org/get-involved/donate/

Additional Resources

County agencies, faith-based organizations, school social workers, healthcare providers, and community centers can provide assistance on connecting with a nearby food pantry if a direct contribution is desirable.

Call to Action

Show your support for community members who rely on SNAP (FoodShare in WI). Contact your elected officials to urge continued funding for food assistance, using the script below. The message is concise and to the point, however, feel free to modify if you would like:

My name is [____] and I am a constituent of [_______]. I am deeply concerned that people in my community will lose SNAP benefits and face hunger in exchange for paying for rent or utilities. Due to the shutdown, I am asking the [Congressman/woman/person] to urge USDA Secretary Rollins to release funds available to USDA in the SNAP Contingency Reserve to be used to fund November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, please urge the USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority to fully fund November benefits. We support pending legislation to require the USDA to fund both SNAP and WIC during the shutdown and reimburse states for their costs. 

How to Contact Congress

You can contact your elected officials by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and telling them your address, or by looking up your legislators on GovTrack.US (scroll down to find the look-up tool).

When you call, a staffer will answer and write down your comments to share with the Congressperson. They won’t argue with you or ask you to justify yourself. When they hear from a lot of people in their state or district about an issue, they DO pay attention.

Note: There are a few legislative options being discussed to fund SNAP during the shutdown, each with different implications and impacts. For now, we recommend using the script above to encourage continued SNAP support.