Annual Report 2026 - Digital - Flipbook - Page 14
The Annual Report 2025-2026 | THE POWER OF BELONGING
RESPONDING IN
A TIME OF NEED
to respond quickly to increased demand,
maintain stocked shelves, and continue
serving every household that came through
its doors.
“Our community stepped up immediately,”
said Pantry Director Heidi Gould. “Donors,
volunteers, and community partners recognized how urgent the need had become,
and they responded with compassion and
action. Because of the strength of our community, pantry guests continued to receive
the food they needed during an incredibly
di昀케cult moment.”
The Jewish Community Pantry’s e昀昀orts
during the holiday season extended beyond
food distribution alone. Over several
weeks, the Pantry hosted two Community
Joy Days, welcoming guests to celebrate
the holidays with dignity, warmth, and
a sense of belonging. The Pantry served
277 households during its Thanksgiving
Community Joy Day and an additional 178
households at its Christmas Event. Families
accessed seasonal foods, participated in
community activities, and experienced
moments of normalcy during what was
otherwise a stressful season for many.
In the fall of 2025, many Milwaukee families
faced a sudden and alarming wave of food
insecurity. Disruptions and freezes to
federal SNAP bene昀椀ts created uncertainty
for thousands of households. For families
already navigating rising food costs and
economic pressure, this created immediate
concern about how they would continue
putting meals on the table.
At the Jewish Community Pantry, the impact
was felt almost overnight.
While the immediacy of the SNAP crisis of late
2025 eased, signi昀椀cant challenges remain
for hunger-relief organizations nationwide.
“Food pantries were never designed to
replace the federal safety net,” Heidi
explained. “Emergency food programs can
help stabilize families during moments
of crisis, but the ongoing reductions in
federal support continue to create very
real challenges for food banks and pantries
across the country.”
Because nearly 70% of Pantry households
rely on SNAP bene昀椀ts in some capacity,
demand for emergency food assistance
surged dramatically throughout October
and November 2025. During the height of
the crisis, the Pantry experienced a nearly
90% increase in the number of guests
typically served. On one Tuesday alone, 103
households visited the Pantry in just two
hours — compared to the usual average
of 55 households. The following Thursday,
154 households came through the Pantry’s
doors, far surpassing the normal daily
average of 90.
Even amid these ongoing challenges, the
strength of the Jewish Community Pantry
will always come from the people who
stand behind it. Its neighbors, volunteers,
and donors all ensure that families facing
hardship are met with compassion, dignity,
and care. That collective response serves
as a powerful reminder that, in times of
uncertainty, our community shows up for
one another.
Amid that uncertainty, the JCC asked our
community to step up and help. After
being alerted to the urgent need, the JCC
community contributed more than $110,000
to help ensure Pantry families continued
to have access to nutritious food during
a moment of signi昀椀cant instability. That
outpouring of support allowed the Pantry
14
