Milwaukee Food Banks Offer ‘Drive-Thru’ and ‘Pick-Up’ Services During Pandemic Crisis

Milwaukee food banks are playing a vital role in relieving hunger in struggling communities.

In the wake of Gov. Tony Evers’ extended safer-at-home order, organizations such as the Riverwest Food Pantry, Feeding America, and the Hunger Task Force, which typically rely greatly on in-person volunteerism to run day-to-day operations, have needed to make adjustments in order to continue to serve those in need.

The Hunger Take Force will now mainly operate as a “drive-thru” service for seniors, low-income households and children throughout Milwaukee County. Their Stockbox Program offers a free monthly box of healthy food for people age 60+ who have a monthly income of $1,383 or less and will be available at public sites and distributed via drive-thru.

All Stockboxes will include essential proteins, fruits and vegetables. The signing and interview process are being waived at this time. Additionally, the Mobile Markets, in partnership with Malicki’s Piggly Wiggly grocery stores, will continue to serve food throughout the Greater Milwaukee area Monday through Friday. These grocery stores on wheels offer fresh produce, meat and dairy at a 25% discount.

 “We’ve outfitted all of our drivers with face masks, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes to keep their work spaces very clean,” says Sarah Kikkert, Communications Manager.  “The Hunger Task Force is taking the virus and general health concerns very seriously. We’re making healthy practices a high priority and taking it day by day”.

All food distributions at the Riverwest Food Pantry are now going to be a “pick-up service” of prebagged food located in the St. Casimir’s Church parking lot on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the midst of the pandemic, they are no longer giving food at the Gaenslen School site. Before the coronavirus outbreak, the Riverwest Food Pantry operated as a full and intensive shopping experience. Individuals walked through rows of food, grocery bag in tow, to make selections.

“We really want to engage our community and have people get to know each other, however given COVID-19, we realize that we need to protect our community first and foremost,” Riverwest Food Pantry Advancement Associate Amanda Fahrendorf said.

Fahrendorf says she’s been getting multiple e-mails a day from members of the community asking how they can help.

“The best way to support is to give financially. That way we’re able to take those funds and allocate them as we need and buy certain items in bulk.”

Scott Marshall, director of development for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, has similar advice for those looking to extend support.

“If people donate money to us we can purchase truck loads of food. That food is at the start of it’s life so we know the expiration won’t be an issue, and we won’t have to sort through it because we already know what it is,” Marshall said.

Sorting serves as a quality control part of the supply chain as well as helps to categorize food before it gets distributed. All volunteers are encouraged to stay at home, so this process just isn’t feasible.

 “Right now we’re a little bit stuck with that link in the chain,” Marshall said.

Donating funds instead of an assortment of cans could virtually eliminate that sorting process; getting food to those most vulnerable in a quicker and safer way.

Marshall said he’s heard from many community members expressing their eagerness to help out in any way.

“We got an email through our website from a gentleman who had never volunteered before. He said, ‘I want to do something, I want to help but I have a medical condition and am unable to stand for more than a couple minutes and I have high blood pressure. Will you still let me volunteer’?”  

This type of compassion from individuals is a tremendous comfort in a time of such worry.

“Thinking about the kind of folks who reach out and want to help the community, it helps buoy us and makes us feel good about the fact that there are so many people out there who want to help us through this pandemic,” Marshall said.

For more information on how to support your neighborhood community while staying safe, visit: The Hunger Task Force, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and the Riverwest Food Pantry.