Making Milwaukee Better
Milwaukee natives are proud to celebrate their Bucks’ wins, beloved breweries, and beautiful views from lake Michigan. As much as we love focusing on the “wins” that bring us together, the city still has a lot to work on. Milwaukee continually tops the list of most segregated cities, sets record highs for crime rates, and battles constantly to better the public school system.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has a huge footprint in the Milwaukee area, taking a part in fighting the inequities that cause those problems. The food bank could not reach as many Milwaukee citizens in need without partners like Ebenezer Stone Ministries.
Ebenezer Stone Ministries has two locations: on the south side of Milwaukee and in the heart of the Menomonee River valley. The organization is a hub for other pantries to pick up food for their neighborhoods. Ebenezer has an abundance of programs to help Milwaukee residents thrive in the city they call home.
They distribute food through a pantry, offer a hot meal program, serve breakfast on Saturdays, and help people get connected to other needed resources. Every other week nurses come in for evaluations and shots, and police officers come in to offer domestic abuse training sessions. There’s also a gym with a basketball court that offers a safe place for youth in the community to play and relax. “It keeps kids off the street and gives them the opportunity to interact with adults,” explains Michael Haas, Executive Director of Ebenezer Stone Ministries. “We can feed them, just talk to them, and talk about their needs too. It also can give parents a break. It’s like a mental health check for everyone.” Ebenezer Stone Ministries truly does it all!
Ebenezer also helps people develop job skills, work on their resume writing, and learn English as a second language. “The job training is crucial,” says Haas. “A lot of people lost their jobs during Covid, so it’s about getting people reacclimated into the workforce with jobs that can substantially take care of their families.”
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin recently donated a pallet jack and forklift to Ebenezer. “These gifts allow us to receive more products and create more space in our warehouse. Additionally, through MATC, people can also earn their forklift certifications. Our warehouse will be one of their testing sites, so people with this certification can get plugged into a good-paying job.”
Making Milwaukee better takes community partnerships like this. The goal is to not simply give people food and send them on their way but to help people create sustainable lives for themselves and their families.
“Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, especially during the height of Covid, really bent over backward to help us. So, the relationship has just been awesome. It’s a big deal to not have to worry about where you’re getting your next meal from. If we have the food here and the job opportunities here, people don’t have to worry about anything else and they can focus on their next step.”
Find pantries in the Milwaukee area near you.
