Milwaukee area leaders launch food drive to support residents affected by loss of FoodShare benefits

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), and other partners are working together to help those affected by the government shutdown. 

FoodShare benefits are expected to pause Nov. 1, and a unified food drive is beginning immediately to help make sure residents have access to food and necessary goods. In collaboration with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Nourish MKE, nonperishable food items and monetary donations will be collected to support local food pantries. 

Mayor Cavalier Johnson, along with other community leaders, spoke Tuesday about how crucial this drive is for families in need. 

"Milwaukee refuses to wait," Mayor Johnson said. "We are going to take care of our own, that's why all these folks are with me here today. Let's step forward and prevent children in our area from going hungry."

Donations will be accepted at the following locations:

• Milwaukee City Hall – 200 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee
• Milwaukee County Courthouse – 901 N. 9^th Street, Milwaukee
• Zeidler Municipal Building – 841 N. Broadway, Milwaukee
• Marcia P. Coggs Health & Human Services Center – 1230 W. Cherry Street, Milwaukee
• Hillview – 1615 S. 22^nd Street, Milwaukee
• Fiserv Forum – 1111 Vel R. Phillips Avenue, Milwaukee
• All Milwaukee Public Schools
• All Milwaukee Police Department districts
• All City of Milwaukee Public Library branches
• Mason Temple Church – 6058 N. 35^th Street, Milwaukee

Donation boxes will be going up throughout the week and will all be out on Nov. 1.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Partnership Manager Josey Strand spoke on Tuesday afternoon. 

"We are equipped to handle hard times, but we were never built to replace FoodShare benefits," Strand said. "For every meal we provide, FoodShare provides nine. The federal nutrition programs are absolutely essential to keeping families fed and healthy.”

For more information, visit the City of Milwaukee's Food Drive page or Milwaukee County's Food Assistance page.