USDA Food and Nutrition Service under secretary Kevin Concannon recently toured three Milwaukee facilities run by the Hunger Task Force. He was in town to see if the Milwaukee model could be applied to other areas of the country.
“You’ve got some unique things going on here in Milwaukee,” Concannon said. “The Hunger Task Force, along with its many partnerships, is not only providing food for those in need in the community, it seems to be doing it in an exemplary way.” The USDA partners with state government and organizations such as Hunger Task Force in order to administer its 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the Summer Food Service Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
According to Concannon, more than 40 million families across the country participate in what used to be the food stamp program.
“Children in those families almost always take part in meal programs at their school, and its those kids we worry about during the summer,” he said. “The Hunger Task Force is doing a much better job than other parts of the country in forming partnerships with other organizations to provide summer meals for the kids in its community.”
During his visit Concannon toured the Hunger Task Force food bank, the Robles Self Service Center, a Hunger Task force run self serve center where clients learn how to manage their own FoodShare cases, apply for BadgerCare Plus and child care benefits, and the Rogers Street Academy Summer Meals site.
“We are pleased that the under secretary can visit Milwaukee and see our unique way of ending hunger,” said Sherrie Tussler, executive director of The Hunger Task Force. “We are especially proud of the Robles Self Service Center, where people can manage their FoodShare case with great independence. And, by showcasing the “Milwaukee Model” for addressing childhood summer hunger we hope to spark interest from other states on the easiest ways to get meals to hungry children when school recesses.”
Concannon also hopes to be able to implement some of what he saw in Milwaukee into other areas across the country.
Check out the video interview with Concannon below.
