Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Milwaukee Co.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — When you look around Milwaukee County, it’s easy to see the effects the coronavirus has had on our way of life. What’s less visible is the number of people who are now worrying about having enough to eat.

Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year’s end. That’s 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it’s a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes.

For others, food insecurity means real hunger.

In Milwaukee County, about 119,940 were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” interactive study.

Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Milwaukee County to 17.5 percent by the end of the year.

Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include one in Milwaukee reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support.

Some of the food pantries and other services available in Milwaukee are:

Metropolitan Baptist Church Pantry
1345 West Burleigh Street, Milwaukee

Amani Community Food Pantry
2480 W. Locust, Milwaukee

Gospel Lutheran Church
1535 W Capitol Dr., Milwaukee

Greater New Birth M.B. Church
8237 West Silver Spring, Milwaukee

Veterans Services
5500 W Greenfield Ave., Milwaukee

St. John's Neighborhood Breakfast
5500 W Greenfield Ave., Milwaukee

Salvation Army Corps
4129 W. Villard Ave Milwaukee

Hampton Ave Church Of Christ
5705 Hampton Ave, Milwaukee

St. Gabriels Church Of God In Christ
5363 N. 37th Street, Milwaukee

St. Gabriel's C.o.g.i.c
5375 N 37th Street, Milwaukee

St. Matthias Svdp Pantry
9306 W. Beloit Road, Milwaukee

Gospel Lutheran Food Pantry
1535 West Capital Drive, Milwaukee

Morris Memorial C.o.g.i.c.
9619 W Lisbon Ave., Milwaukee

Morris Memorial Cogic
9619 W. Lisbon Ave., Milwaukee

SVDP - Blessed Savior
8607 W. Villard Ave., Milwaukee

The Salvation Army 60th Street
5880 N 60th St., Milwaukee

SVDP- St. James Pantry
7219 S. 27th Street, Franklin

Calvary Memorial Church
4515 North Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa

Macedonia MB Church
7265 N. Teutonia Ave., Milwaukee

St. Peter Immanuel Lutheran Church
7801 West Acacia Street, Milwaukee

South Milwaukee Human Concerns, Inc.
1029 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee

New Berlin Food Pantry
14750 W. Cleveland Ave., New Berlin

Brentwood Church Of Christ
6425 N. 60th Street, Milwaukee

Faith Baptist Church
8519 S. 13th Street, Oak Creek

RELATED: Millions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor

Food insecurity is often thought of as a “poor people’s problem,” but not all people living in poverty are food insecure, and not all food insecure people live in poverty. Food insecurity is a complex issue sandwiched in with other systemic challenges, including poverty, low wages, affordable housing shortages, chronic and acute health problems, high medical costs and social isolation.

“Our members are reporting that many of the people they’re serving have never sought food assistance before,” Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America’s chief network officer, told Patch. “Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to food banks are now seeking assistance.”

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

This article originally appeared on the Oak Creek Patch