Watching Soccer and Eating Bacon on Sunday can Support Hunger Task Force

The Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee is teaming up with the Milwaukee Wave and 102.9 The HOG on Sunday for two very special fundraising opportunities.

Can you guess which event will involve more than 900 lbs. of Patrick Cudahy Bacon?

You guessed it. It’s 102.9 The Hog’s ninth annual Baconfest Milwaukee. This Sunday from 12 p.m.- 4 p.m. there will be more than 30 booths set up in the Event Center at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino for people to sample bacon of all varieties from local restaurants.

The Hunger Task Force, whose mission is to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need, will be on site accepting donations and hosting a 50/50 raffle. Raffle proceeds will be split evenly between one lucky winner and the nonprofit organization.

Executive Director of the Hunger Task Force Sherrie Tussler said her group will use its half to buy certain essential foods that don’t necessarily get donated often enough.

“People donate food and we have government commodities, but there are things that just don’t get donated in adequate supply,” Tussler said. “Things like instant formula, canned fruit and vegetables. So what we’re able to do (with the proceeds) is to buy semi-loads of vegetables and not just one can at a time. We can essentially lower the prices and double the value.”

The Hunger Task Force has long been a community partner with 102.9 The Hog. In the last several months, these two joined forces for the Lend a Helping Ham program that helped provide juicy hams for families in need during the holiday season.

“I believe we got over 900 hams last season. That’s almost $1,400 in profit for the Hunger Task Force,” said 102.9 The Hog’s Promotions Manager, Patrick Flood.

The two organizations hope to build on that momentum this Sunday at Baconfest, and are expecting more than 2,300.

If you prefer sports to bacon, $5 from every ticket sold at the Milwaukee Wave game this Sunday will be donated to the Hunger Task Force. Attendees for the 1 p.m. game against St. Louis at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena also can donate jar of peanut butter. Those who do will be entered for the opportunity to do the half time ball-toss game.

The Wanted: Peanut Butter campaign is the Hunger Task Force’s most popular winter project. During February, all Milwaukee fire stations and other locations will accept extra jars of peanut butter on behalf of the Hunger Task Force.

For the Hunger Task Force, the events are about engaging the public in an effort to help address food insecurity. The organization thrives on people supplying their labor.

“The Hunger Task Force relies on as many as 11,000 volunteers over the course of the year to do the work and create that safety net for people,” Tussler said. “Lots of people volunteer around the holidays but at this time of year people aren’t signing up as much and we encourage them to renew their commitment to volunteer work. We welcome people to get involved in ending hunger in Milwaukee.”

Those looking to make a difference through volunteerism can also get involved in upcoming Hunger Task Force Programs. Match Madness MKE is a community-wide fundraising event in support of local hunger relief. From March 2-12, every donation to the Hunger Task Force will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by local donors. Additionally, in just a few short months, the Hunger Task Force Farm in Franklin, WI will be up and running. Starting in May, volunteers can soak up the sun while helping grow fresh fruits and vegetables to feed hungry people in the community.

For more information on Sunday’s events and how to get involved in volunteerism, visit The Hunger Task Force website for more information.