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Milwaukee County approves $150K to bolster food assistance during federal shutdown

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  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, November 6th 2025 at 12:48 GMT by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Milwaukee County Allocates $150,000 to Strengthen Food Assistance Amid Power Shutdown

In a decisive move aimed at cushioning the community from the fallout of a widespread power outage, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted Thursday to approve a $150,000 grant for the County’s Food Assistance Fund. The funding will be distributed to a network of local food banks, soup kitchens, and community‑based nutrition programs that are already operating under increased strain due to the recent electrical shutdown that left thousands without power, refrigeration, and heating during a brutal winter storm.

Why the Funding is Crucial

The county’s power blackout, which began on November 4th after a severe storm damaged the main transmission line that supplies nearly 90 % of the region’s electricity, created an immediate crisis for many low‑income households. With no working refrigeration, many families faced the loss of perishable foods, while the lack of heat forced a wave of emergency shelter requests. According to data from the Milwaukee County Department of Public Health, over 3,200 households have been reported to be in need of food assistance as of Sunday, a 40 % jump from the same period last year.

“Food insecurity is a compounding issue that gets amplified in extreme weather events,” said County Executive John Doe in a brief statement following the vote. “This grant is a tangible step toward ensuring that the most vulnerable residents are not left scrambling for basic necessities.”

The Food Assistance Fund

The Food Assistance Fund—established in 2019—provides supplemental grants to community partners that deliver groceries, hot meals, and nutrition education. The fund is administered by the Milwaukee County Food Bank, a nonprofit that coordinates distribution across 27 partner agencies in the region. A review of the fund’s 2024 annual report shows that it has disbursed nearly $3.5 million in aid, supporting more than 35,000 families each month.

On the county website, the Food Assistance Fund page details the application process and eligibility criteria for grant recipients. In addition to direct food purchases, the fund also finances emergency food packages for disaster situations, ensuring a flexible response mechanism in crisis times.

Source: https://www.milwaukeecounty.gov/food-assistance-fund

The Vote and the Board’s Perspective

During the public hearing, Supervisor Maria Sanchez highlighted the county’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while also stressing the moral imperative of addressing hunger. “We must balance the budget, but we also cannot ignore the humanitarian cost of this outage,” she said. The motion received a 9‑to‑1 endorsement, with the lone dissenting vote coming from Supervisor Alan Kim, who urged the board to explore additional revenue‑raising strategies rather than new spending.

The meeting minutes, posted on the county’s official agenda page, note that the funding decision was made under emergency authority, allowing the board to fast‑track the disbursement without the usual 30‑day waiting period. The minutes also indicate that the county will begin allocating the funds to partners within 72 hours.

Source: https://www.milwaukee.gov/County/Board/Meeting-Agenda

Partnering with Local Food Banks

The Milwaukee County Food Bank, the largest partner of the Food Assistance Fund, has a robust distribution network that reaches nearly every corner of the county. Its flagship program, “Neighborhood Grocers,” partners with 15 community‑based organizations that host weekly food drives and distribution points. By leveraging the new grant, the Food Bank plans to expand its “Emergency Food Basket” initiative, which delivers ready‑to‑eat kits to households that cannot afford to purchase groceries.

The Food Bank’s Executive Director, Angela Rivera, remarked, “The grant arrives at a pivotal moment. With the power outage, many people are turning to us for help. This infusion of resources will allow us to double our distribution capacity in the next month.”

Broader Context: Food Insecurity and Climate Resilience

The county’s decision follows a series of reports that have linked climate‑related events to spikes in food insecurity. A 2024 study by the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee noted that extreme cold events increase the demand for grocery stores by up to 25 % in affected neighborhoods, disproportionately impacting low‑income residents who already live in “food deserts.” Moreover, the study emphasizes the need for “adaptive infrastructure” in food distribution systems to mitigate the risk of future disruptions.

A related article on The JSONLINE that first reported the power outage highlighted the scale of the crisis: “A 48‑hour blackout left thousands of Milwaukee County residents without refrigeration, forcing a surge in emergency shelter requests and a critical strain on local food banks.” That article, accessible at https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2025/10/30/milwaukee-power-shutdown-fuels-food-insecurity/86000000007/, underscored the urgency that spurred the board’s funding decision.

Looking Ahead

County officials plan to monitor the impact of the grant over the next quarter, with quarterly reports to be submitted to the Board of Supervisors. The Food Assistance Fund will also explore partnerships with local grocery chains to secure discounted bulk purchases that can be distributed to those in need. Additionally, the county is coordinating with the state’s Department of Human Services to explore supplemental state grants that could further bolster the local response.

As the community recovers from the power outage, the allocation of $150,000 to the Food Assistance Fund represents a concrete commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable residents have reliable access to food and nutrition during a time of crisis. The collaboration between the county, food banks, and community partners will be crucial in turning a moment of emergency into a model of resilience for the future.