We are serious about solving hunger.

Hunger does not discriminate. In Eastern Wisconsin, 1-in-10 people do not know where their next meal is coming from. It plagues families in our cities, in our suburbs, and in our rural areas. They are our neighbors. For these families living paycheck to paycheck, any disruption to work, school, health, or an increased cost of living, can be the difference between stability and hunger. When the problem of finding that next meal is solved, families can move toward a healthier, happier life.

Since 1982, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has been helping our neighbors in need. From our humble beginnings of the first donation of 600 pounds of red delicious apples, to distributing more than 38 million pounds of healthy food across 35 counties each year, we are helping those who face hunger move forward.

Together, we are solving hunger.

How can my family receive food assistance?

If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, please visit our Food Assistance page HERE, or our Pantry Locator HERE to find a food pantry, meal program, or shelter in your area. Additionally, you can dial 2-1-1 from any phone 24/7 for immediate free and confidential help finding convenient resources through 211 Wisconsin.

Can an individual pick up food directly from you?

Not directly. Most of the food we receive into our warehouses from manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and growers is in bulk. Once we receive the food, our volunteers pack it into individual family-sized portions that we then distribute to our pantry partners. To view the closest food pantry, meal program, or shelter in your area, visit our Pantry Locator HERE. If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, please visit our Food Assistance page HERE.

What is your mission and core values?

Mission: To solve hunger.

Core Values:

  • Dignity: All people deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.
  • Humanity: People at the center of our decision making and mission.
  • Collaboration: Working together, we are solving hunger.
  • Equity: Equitable access to nutrition is a right for all.
  • Accountability: We operate with the highest standard of fiscal responsibility, ethics, and integrity.

What is Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin?

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the largest hunger relief organization in the state of Wisconsin, operating food banks in Milwaukee and Appleton. Together with our network of nearly 400 food pantries, meal programs, and shelters, we provide healthy food for over 500,000 neighbors in need across 35 counties in Eastern Wisconsin. Each year, we distribute more than 38 million pounds of nutritious food to hunger relief programs across our footprint.

We Believe:
… together, we are solving hunger.
… access to nutritious food is a right for all.
… all people deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.
… collaboration with partners throughout our community leads to innovative solutions.
… our people are our most valuable asset.
… in fiscal responsibility transparency, and accountability.

How can I contact you?

To contact our Milwaukee campus by phone, please call 414.931.7400. To contact our Appleton campus by phone, please call 920.202.3690. To connect with a member of our staff with a specific question, please fill out the Send Us A Message form HERE and your message will be passed along to the appropriate department or staff member. To view a full listing of our staff and Board of Directors, click HERE.

What is your EIN number?

The EIN for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is: 39-1384593 

Where are you located and what are your business hours?

Milwaukee Campus:
1700 W. Fond du Lac Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53205

Appleton Campus:
2911 W. Evergreen Drive
Appleton, WI 54913

Business Hours (September through May)*:
Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Fridays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Business Hours (June through August)*:
Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Fridays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

*Business Hours subject to change without notice.

Do you offer tours of either campus?

Yes! We love showing members of the community a behind-the-scenes look at our Milwaukee and Appleton campuses! Just give us a call at 414.931.7400 (Milwaukee) or 920.202.3690 (Appleton) and we’ll help you get a tour scheduled.

What exactly is a food bank?

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a food bank – a nonprofit organization that procures, receives, stores, and distributes millions of pounds of food to hunger relief organizations such as food pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs, and emergency shelters. When food arrives at our food bank, it is checked for quality, sorted, labeled, packed into family-sized servings, and then delivered to our partner organizations, which then make it available to individuals and families who are facing hunger.

Food banks are community leaders in the fight against hunger, creating tailored, responsive programs, providing resources to improve food security, and advocating to address the root causes of hunger in our communities.

How is food distributed out to your pantry partners?

Our unique distribution models are the bread and butter of what we do. Operating with forward-thinking and effective purchasing, receiving, processing, and efficient distribution of food throughout our footprint is paramount to ensuring our neighbors have access to a healthy balance of nutritious foods. Here’s a glimpse into how we do it:

Funds are Donated: The kindness and generosity of the communities we serve is vital to our ability to keep up with the need. Monetary donations used to purchase food are the most effective way to keep up with the need, while providing the dignity of choice for food pantry guests.

Food is Donated: Food is donated to feed our neighbors in need through local growers, retailers, manufacturers, food drives, and state and federal programs.

Food is Purchased: Donated food may provide a large influx of certain foods, but it rarely provides enough food to maintain a balanced variety of nutritious food options. Additional food is purchased through a variety of sources to supplement that which is donated.

Sorted and Packed with Purpose: Volunteers and staff check food for quality, then sort and pack, and safely store it for distribution to our Solve Hunger Network partners.

Order Up and On the Road: All of our partners order food through food banking software to ensure they can select the right variety of foods to support their communities. Our warehouse staff then fulfills the orders and our fleet of drivers delivers the food throughout our footprint.

Where do you get the food you distribute?

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin works with local manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and growers who donate millions of pounds of food every year.

There are many reasons why products are donated. They may be mislabeled, overproduced, test -market items and products with short code dates. In the case of produce, the product may be an odd shape or have slight blemishes. In all cases, donated food is safe and healthy.

As member of the Feeding America network of food banks, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin also has the ability to source high-need items at a minimal cost.

What non-perishable food items are needed most?

Some of the most-requested non-perishable food items* from our pantry partners include:

  • Peanut Butter
  • Canned Fruits
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Soups
  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Juice
  • Canned Meats (tuna, chicken)
  • Boxed Cereal
  • Tomato Sauce

*Please do not collect glass jars or any food items that are perishable (dairy products, meats, produce).

Our History

Since 1982, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has been helping our neighbors in need. From our humble beginnings of a first donation of 600 pounds of apples to distributing more than 38 million pounds of healthy food each year, we are helping those who face hunger move forward. Over 40 years ago, Dr. Milton J. Huber, a professor of public affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, saw a problem and sought the Rotary Club for help. He noticed that overproduction and the overstocking of multidepartment supermarkets in order to meet consumer expectations led to a rapid increase in wasted food.

Huber suggested to Rotarians Price Davis and Art Riemer that the Milwaukee Rotary Club would be the perfect group to spearhead a food banking system to save surplus food and deliver it to people facing hunger in their city. A local grower provided their first donation – 600 pounds of apples. Those apples laid the foundation for what has led to years of hunger relief work, reaching far beyond neighborhoods in Milwaukee.

Today, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the largest local hunger relief organization in the state. The organization operates food banks in Milwaukee and Appleton and receives food from retailers, wholesalers, growers, and donors. The food is transported, sorted, and stored at each campus before it is distributed to nearly 400 pantries and meal programs across 35 Eastern Wisconsin counties.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin looks at the bigger picture of hunger, investing in advocacy and policy efforts. Educating lawmakers to support legislative solutions to end hunger is a critical part of our work. It’s important to also educate the public on the reality of hunger – anyone can experience it. We are all one diagnosis, job layoff, or car accident away from needing a little extra help. Through our network of retailers, growers, manufacturers, donors, volunteers, food pantries, and people just like you, fresh healthy food has made its way onto the tables of families who need it for over 40 years. That is why Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin believes that together, we are solving hunger.

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