MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS)- COVID 19 is taking a toll on volunteer numbers for Wisconsin non-profits. Hunger Task Force, Inc. in Milwaukee posted a plea for help on Facebook Friday.
“Right now, we have enough volunteers for 5,700 boxes next week but, the week after, we have no one signed up,” says Executive Director Sherrie Tussler.
Tussler is talking about the non-profit’s Stockboxes. These are a free box of USDA commodity foods distributed to 10,000 seniors age 60 and older. The supply lasts for about two weeks.
“We move 10,000 stock boxes a month throughout the Milwaukee community and eleven other counties in the state of Wisconsin in order to help those seniors,” says Tussler. “They’re one of the most vulnerable populations, they’re the ones who should be staying home.”
That Facebook post garnered community members to act.
“We just had a lot of free time, so I messaged by fellow classmates and we all volunteered our time to do the boxing,” says MATC student Nicole Shinners.
Nicole posted the non-profits social media message to her classmates at MATC, which is shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Her classmate and friend, Elle Velazquez is helping too.
“My friend Nicole posted it on our school page and I just caught myself posting a lot of things about what's going on and I was like maybe I should actually do something about it,” Elle says.
Hunger Task Force has permission from the state to produce more boxes than its quota, if needed. It’s seeking small groups of 10 to 15 people to help build them.
If you’re interested in volunteering, you can:
1) Make a secure online donation at HungerTaskForce.org to support shortfalls in specific food donations and operations for emergency food distributions.
2) Volunteer to build senior Stockboxes or support the Mobile Market. Fill out a volunteer application and individuals or small groups will be scheduled in 24-48 hours.