Milwaukee leaders say thousands raised for citywide food drive

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WELL, TODAY MARKS 31 DAYS SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BEGAN AND THE IMPACT IS ABOUT TO HIT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. MORE FUNDING FOR FOOD BENEFITS EXPIRES TOMORROW, AND THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE RIGHT NOW IS STEPPING UP TO TRY AND FILL THE GAP FOR THOSE IN NEED. 12 NEWS I-90 FLEMING IS LIVE AT NOURISH MKE FOOD CENTER ON 13TH AND CHERRY, WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING GROCERIES RIGHT NOW. RIGHT GERRON. WE’VE BEEN HERE FOR A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING. FOLKS HAVE BEEN SHOPPING FOR GROCERIES. MANY OF THEM TELL US SOME OF THE FOOD ITEMS HERE, OR ARE ITEMS THEY WOULDN’T HAVE ACCESS TO IF IT WEREN’T FOR A PLACE LIKE THIS. MANY OF THOSE FOLKS FOODSHARE RECIPIENTS THEMSELVES, AND THERE WAS A NEWS CONFERENCE HELD HERE THIS MORNING THAT REALLY BROKE DOWN WHERE THE CITY STANDS WITH THE CURRENT CITYWIDE FOOD DRIVE. OUR RESIDENTS, OUR WORKING FAMILIES, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PAYING THE PRICE AS A RESULT OF THIS SHUTDOWN. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT’S NOT RIGHT. I ALSO WANT TO SAY, AND SO AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, THE MAYOR SAID THERE HAVE BEEN OVER $22,000 RAISED SO FAR IN DONATIONS FOR THE FOOD DRIVE. THAT MONEY WILL PAY FOR UP TO 90,000 MEALS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAVID CROWLEY SAYS THE DRIVE, DONATIONS AND CALL FOR HELP, THOUGH, ARE NOT A LONG TERM SOLUTION, JUST A BAND-AID TO THIS SHUTDOWN. HE AND CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE CALL EMPLOYEES HERE SAY THEY’VE SEEN AN UPTICK ALREADY IN PEOPLE COMING IN FOR GROCERIES. ABOUT 80% OF PEOPLE COMING IN, ALL FOR CENTERS RIGHT NOW ARE FIRST TIME SHOPPERS. AFTER THE CONFERENCE, WE DID TALK TO A MAN NAMED MARCUS HARRIS. HE’S A FOOD SHARE RECIPIENT AND SAYS HE’S WORRIED FOR HIS FAMILY WITH THE KIDS AND STUFF. AND IT’S SO HARD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY’RE GROWING, YOU KNOW, SO THEY GOT TO BE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO. AND SO IMANI, YOU SPOKE WITH CONGRESSWOMAN MOORE ONE ON ONE THIS MORNING. THAT’S RIGHT. GERRON I DID SHE SAID SHE’S HEARING RUMORS IN D.C. THAT SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON WILL CALL ALL OF CONGRESS BACK TO D.C. ON MONDAY. I ALSO ASKED HER WHAT THE MESSAGE IS RIGHT NOW TO WISCONSIN FAMILIES WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHO ARE WORRIED THAT THEY WON’T HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD. THE MESSAGE TO THEM IS THAT THEY’RE SHORT TERM PAIN FOR LONG TERM GAIN. AND GERRON. THAT MESSAGE, OF COURSE, IS DEMOCRATS AND CONGRESSWOMAN MOORE NOT BACKING DOWN TO REPUBLICANS AND STANDING FIRM ON THEIR BELIEF ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. ALL RIGHT, IMANI, LIVE AT THE NOURISH MKE FOOD CENTER AT 13TH AND CHERRY. IMANI FLEMING THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A LIST OF WHERE AND WHAT YOU CAN DONATE RIGHT NOW ON THE WISN 1

$22,000 raised for citywide food drive as SNAP benefits set to expire

Mayor Cavalier Johnson says $22,000 has been raised for 90,000 meals for families set to lose FoodShare benefits Nov. 1.

Updated: 3:09 PM CDT Oct 31, 2025

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Milwaukee officials and community leaders gathered at the Nourish MKE Food Center on 13th and Cherry streets in Milwaukee to discuss the effects of the federal government shutdown on local families, emphasizing the need for a resolution and announcing significant donations to support food assistance. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore addressed the impact on Wisconsinites. “Our residents, our working families, they are the ones paying the price for this shutdown. And frankly, that’s not right,” Crowley said. Moore urged President Donald Trump to “stop tricking us,” stating, “Americans are not looking for candy. They’re looking for basic food.”Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced that $22,000 in donations had been raised in less than a week as part of a citywide food drive. He said it’s enough to provide 90,000 meals. However, he stressed the need for a resolution to the impasse that is shutting down the federal government.Moore told WISN 12 News that the resolution will take time, advising those who rely on benefits that “the message to them is short-term pain for long-term gain.”Nourish MKE representatives noted they have enough resources to help people in the short term, but their food supply will not last through a prolonged federal government shutdown.”We’re meant to be a supplement to the SNAP program. We’re not meant to replace it,” Nourish MKE Executive Director Valerie MacMillian said. MacMillian also mentioned that about 80% of guests were first-time shoppers last week. With no end in sight, individuals like Marcus Harris are accepting all the assistance available. “With the kids and stuff, it’s so hard because they’re growing. You got to be out there, do what you got to do,” he said. Top HeadlinesMilwaukee police shut down Brady Street after Halloween partiesFDA says drug makers have recalled blood pressure medication tainted with cancer-causing chemicalFBI thwarts ‘potential terrorist attack’ in MichiganWATCH: Before the Candy, Think Safety: Halloween tips every parent should know

MILWAUKEE —

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore addressed the impact on Wisconsinites.

“Our residents, our working families, they are the ones paying the price for this shutdown. And frankly, that’s not right,” Crowley said.

Moore urged President Donald Trump to “stop tricking us,” stating, “Americans are not looking for candy. They’re looking for basic food.”

Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced that $22,000 in donations had been raised in less than a week as part of a citywide food drive. He said it’s enough to provide 90,000 meals. However, he stressed the need for a resolution to the impasse that is shutting down the federal government.

Moore told WISN 12 News that the resolution will take time, advising those who rely on benefits that “the message to them is short-term pain for long-term gain.”

Nourish MKE representatives noted they have enough resources to help people in the short term, but their food supply will not last through a prolonged federal government shutdown.

“We’re meant to be a supplement to the SNAP program. We’re not meant to replace it,” Nourish MKE Executive Director Valerie MacMillian said.

MacMillian also mentioned that about 80% of guests were first-time shoppers last week.

With no end in sight, individuals like Marcus Harris are accepting all the assistance available.

“With the kids and stuff, it’s so hard because they’re growing. You got to be out there, do what you got to do,” he said.

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