‘It means everything’: Milwaukee food pantry continues to help despite high demand

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - The Nourish MKE Food Pantry partnered with Milwaukee County on Wednesday for a food drive to give back to those in need for the holiday season.

Around 37 volunteers came together to give out around 400 bags of groceries, as the demand on Nourish MKE continues.

“This year’s already been a real big challenge for us,” Nourish MKE Executive Director Valerie MacMillan said. “During the SNAP crisis we saw our numbers doubling, which was really intense, it's backed off a little bit but the numbers are still higher than they were this time last year.”

The pantry is already working with other groups and health organizations to keep up with the demand.

“I think that this might be the new normal which is tough because we really want to make sure that everybody has access to food,” MacMillan said.

Tyler Calloway was at the food drive on Wednesday with her son.

“It’s hard, because you have to pick and choose where your money goes,” Calloway said. “If it wasn’t for things like this, we would probably be struggling.”

Michael Phillips also swung by the food drive on Wednesday with the goal of not only helping himself, but those around him.

“Trying to get some food to help others,” Phillips said. “I’ve seen a lot of people walking down the street, they got nothing in their bags.”

As winter rolls on and the need for food goes up, the pantry is doing everything they can to keep people in Milwaukee fed.

“We’re seeing it really, really climbing through the roof right now,” MacMillan said. “I think there are a lot of people who are afraid of what’s coming too and so they’re stocking up and we just want to be here for people.”