An assembled team of MPS staff distributes sack lunches and packets of educational materials Monday at ALBA Elementary. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the evening times for Eastbrook Church’s food pantry.
As COVID-19 keeps residents in their homes and some grocery stores are running low, access to food is becoming increasingly difficult for some Milwaukee residents. Below is a list of food pantries and meal programs operating around the city for those who need it.
Note that this is not a complete list, and circumstances have been changing rapidly so some of the listed sites may have closed their doors by the time you read this. Please call before visiting a site.
Monday-Friday meal programs
Both Milwaukee Public Schools and the Boys and Girls Club will be offering “grab-and-go” meal programs for young people.
MPS will be providing lunches at 20 sites Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. See the full list of sites here, and a map of locations here.
The Boys and Girls Club will be providing lunch and dinner for those under 18 at six locations. Locations and times can be found here.
Finding food pantries
Use the 2-1-1 Wisconsin website to find the food pantry in your neighborhood.
Call Impact at 2-1-1, which can connect you to food pantries and meal programs. You can also text your ZIP code to TXT-211.
Capuchin Community Services runs several food pantries in the Milwaukee area. Some of the locations include House of Peace, 1702 W. Walnut St.; Hope House, 209 W. Orchard St.; and more. For the full list and times click here.
Frieden Community Ministries has several food pantry locations. The locations include the Coggs Center, 1220 W. Vliet St.; Despensa de la Paz, 1615 S. 22nd St.; Hope House, 209 W. Orchard St.; and Zion Rock, 10230 W. Fond du Lac Ave. Click the links for hours of operation.
Eastbrook Church is located at 5353 N Green Bay Ave. The food pantry is open Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information call (414) 228-5220, ext. 110.
Interchange Food Pantry is located at 130 E. Juneau Ave. Its hours are Tuesdays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information call (414) 551-2184 or visit its Facebook page.
Riverwest Food Pantry is located at 924 E. Clarke St. Its hours are Tuesdays 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For more information, call (414) 301-1478, or visit its website or Facebook page.
Feeding America supplies locations all over the North Side. Visit its website for a full list of locations and hours. Before visiting a location, call to ensure it is still open.
The Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin is providing to-go bag lunches at all of its meal sites during this crisis until further notice
Monday, Friday and Saturday: Bagged to-go breakfasts are distributed from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 am, and Saturday bagged to-go lunches are distributed from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Running Rebels, 1300 W Fond du Lac Ave.
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: Bagged to-go dinners are distributed from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday bagged to-go lunches will be distributed from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Christian Faith Fellowship East, 724 S Layton Blvd.
Saturday: Bagged to-go lunches will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Our Next Generation, 3421 W. Lisbon Ave.
Second and fourth Saturday: Bagged to-go lunches are distributed from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mt Carmel Lutheran Church, 8424 W Center St.
Want to volunteer to help distribute food?
Feeding America is looking for individual volunteers to help supply local food pantries. Visit Feeding America’s website to sign up to volunteer.
The Hunger Task Force is also looking for volunteers over 18 to help supply local food pantries. Visit the Hunger Task Force’s website.
The Milwaukee Community Care and Mutual Aid Collective is also organizing around staffing and stock food pantries, delivering food to those who cannot leave their homes, as well as a number of other community aid projects. Visit its Facebook page or email them at milwaukeewicare@gmail.com to help out.
Did we miss anything. Please email info@milwaukeenns.org or comment below.
Sam Woods is a staff reporter primarily covering education in Milwaukee. When not reporting for NNS, Sam produces the Bridge the City podcast,a podcast that brings together people, resources, and ideas that inspire Milwaukee to action, with a reach of over 6,000 monthly subscribers across all podcast platforms.
- Are Black MPS students still being disproportionately disciplined? - November 24, 2020
- Where to find free meals this Thanksgiving and how you can support those in need - November 20, 2020
- NNS Spotlight: ‘It’s up to us to paint a picture’: Milwaukee youth release album to mark a chaotic year - November 6, 2020
As a board member and volunteer at a network of food pantries, it is important for the community to know that we are doing our best to get food to people who need it most. Operations at all food pantries throughout Milwaukee are being disrupted. Please be patient while we figure out solutions to both getting people the food they need and keeping people safe.
David Nelson — Chairman
Friedens Community Ministries
Hello David, I am unable to assist a family on the south side any longer because of the virus. Usually I take them food and other items. They have no means of transportation. There are (2) adults and (2) children under the age of 3. Can you advise me or assist.
Best Regards,
Dor
The Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin, Inc. is providing to go bag lunches at all of its meal sites during this crisis until further notice
Monday – Friday – bagged to go breakfasts are distributed from 8:30 am – 9:30 am, and Saturday bagged to go lunches are distributed from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm at their Running Rebels site 1300 W Fond du Lac Avenue
Monday & Wednesday – bagged to go diners are distributed from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm and Saturday bagged lunches to go are distributed from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm at 724 S Layton Blvd – Christian Faith Fellowship East
Saturday bagged to go lunches from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm at 3421 W Lisbon – Our Next Generation
The 2nd and 4th Saturday bagged to go lunches are distributed from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm at 8424 W Center Street – Mt Carmel Lutheran Church
Where can a household on the south side of Milwaukee get help with food, if they have no car or means of getting to a location? During this virus I am unable to assist this family? Please direct me.
Ayuda Mutua MKE is doing food distribution on the South Side from St. Patrick’s church on 7th & Washington: https://www.facebook.com/ayudamutuamke/. I believe they do some delivery too.