'When the Bucks talk on an issue, the community listens': Hunger Task Force and Bucks explain impact of their partnership
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Food prices continue to climb across the United States, leaving tens of thousands of families in southeast Wisconsin to rely on groups like the Hunger Task Force each month to help make ends meet.
In a CBS 58 Exclusive, Montse Ricossa sat down with the Milwaukee Bucks and Hunger Task Force to see how their partnership is making an impact in our communities.
"The need for this level of partnership is greater now than ever," shared Matt King, CEO of Hunger Task Force.
Their partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks has stretched for decades, bringing attention to the issue of food insecurity. King says the Milwaukee institutions are "really focused on the health and wellbeing of local families and passionate about increasing access to nutrition for local kids," Arvind Gopalratnam, Senior Vice President of corporate social responsibility for the Milwaukee Bucks said for the Bucks, they look at how food can be "the core part of what we're serving and creating as access" throughout their programming.
King said they've seen "a really steep increase on the need for food and nutrition services" throughout Wisconsin and in Milwaukee. On a monthly basis statewide, King said they are serving over 160,000 people.
"As need has increased, so has the need for community support and community engagement," Kind said. "Because we have great partners with the Bucks to use their platform to shine a light on that, that means communities are more aware of that and willing to support our organization, which in turn gives us more of a way to help those in need."
One in ten Wisconsin households reportedly faces food insecurity. Hunger Task Force says their partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks helps to put a spotlight on the issue.
"More than just talk about them, we want to go act," explained Gopalratnam.
Those actions are seen often, with team members like Doc Rivers, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, and many more, packing boxes that go back to our hometowns.
"When the Bucks talk on an issue, the community listens. The fact that the Bucks are able to leverage their platform to advance our mission and cause and bring awareness to it it’s had a huge impact." - Matt King
The two organizations continue to build their relationship on and off the court for years to come.
"We see it as our responsibility. The more we can use our voice, the more we can inspire others to understand the challenges and roll up their sleeves and participate," said Gopalratnam.
In January, a Bucks-Mavericks game was postponed at Fiserv Forum because of a winter storm in Texas. All of the food that was prepared for that game went back out into the community. Sojourner Family Peace Center received 75 pounds of food to feed over 60 people in their shelters for two days.