UPDATED: Where to find free meals in Milwaukee during the holidays | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 23, 2020
Though large gatherings are canceled, food pantries like this one at the Milwaukee Islamic Dawah Center are still open. (File photo by Mark Doremus)
We are hearing a lot from people looking for food, so we’ve created a list of food pantries, food banks and meal distribution centers.
Note that this is not a complete list, and times and locations may have changed by the time you read this. Please call before visiting a site.
We want to keep this list updated. If we have missed a resource, let us know by emailing your information to info@milwaukeenns.org with “meals” in the subject line.
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The Hunger Task Force has created an interactive map complete with food pantries, MPS meal sites, non-MPS meal sites, meal sites for seniors and more. The map is updated daily but call the location before you visit to make sure it is still open.
Feeding America also has an interactive map of food pantries and meal programs located across eastern Wisconsin. The map is updated regularly but call the location before you visit to make sure it is still open.
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 in your area. You can also text your ZIP code to TXT-211.
The Salvation Army is continuing its annual Christmas Family Feast this year, but meals are available only for takeout or curbside pickup. Meals will be distributed on a first come, first served basis on Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Large in-person gatherings, like this one at Riverwest Food Pantry in 2011, are canceled this year. But that doesn’t mean those in need are out of options. (File photo by Sue Vliet)
The Milwaukee Center for Independence, or MCFI, is distributing seven-day meal kits at three locations. On Monday, Dec. 28, kits are available at 2330 W. Vieau St. (Clarke Square Park) from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. On Tuesday, Dec. 29, kits are available at 4201 N. 27th St. and 1915 N. Martin Luther King Drive from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Milwaukee Islamic Dawah Center, located at 5135 N. Teutonia Ave. is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday Dec. 23, Tuesday Dec. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Capuchin Community Services will be distributing meals at 1702 W. Walnut St. on Dec. 23 from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and from 3 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The location will also be distributing meals Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. starting Dec. 28.
The Neighborhood House pantry, at 2819 W. Richardson Place will be open to serve residents of the 53208 and 53233 ZIP codes on Dec. 23, 24, 30 and 31. On Wednesdays (Dec. 23 and 30) the pantry will be open from noon to 2 p.m. On Thursdays (Dec. 24 and 31), the pantry will be open from 4 p.m.. to 6 p.m..
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Milwaukee is operating two meal program sites this week and next at its North (2600 N. 2nd St.) and South (931 W. Madison St.) sites. Both sites will be open on Dec. 25 from noon to 12:45 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 27, only the North site will be open, from 4 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. On Monday, Dec. 28, only the South site will be open, from 4 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Both locations are then closed through Jan. 1.
MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary will be holding service on Dec. 24 at 1720 W. Locust St. from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The service will include bag lunches, fresh produce and sweets. On Dec. 25, it will serve hot meals at 2461 W. Center St. from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
COA Youth and Family Centers’ food pantry, 2320 W. Burleigh St., will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28.
Ayuda Mutua MKE will open at 2801 S. 5th Court for curbside pickup from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26.
The best way to support these organizations is to donate. You can donate to each organization via their websites, linked above. In addition to these organizations, here are some other opportunities to help:
Neighborhood House is looking for volunteers to staff its Thursday operation from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. It is also looking for volunteers to help accept food deliveries for two Friday mornings per month starting at 9:30 a.m. Those interested can email development director Widge Liccione at widge@nh-milw.org.
MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary is looking for volunteers to staff its food distribution and other programs.