In December, Hunger Task Force bought a new headquarters building and it is now kicking off fundraising to transform what has been a warehouse into a new food bank.
The $3.4 million capital campaign – dubbed “Build Our Strength to Serve” – aims to convert the 120,000-square-foot space at 5000 W. Electric Ave. in West Milwaukee into a modern food bank facility with freezer and cooler space, a community education kitchen and a volunteer welcome center.
Hunger Task Force's headquarters are currently at 201 S. Hawley Ct. and it has two warehouses.
The larger space will allow the nonprofit to consolidate all its program staff at the same facility, paving the way for smoother service to the community.
The new freezer and cooler construction is already complete and construction on the remainder of the project should kick off in June., with an eye toward autumn occupancy.
Hunger Task Force hopes to raise the necessary funds by January.
“The lasting impact that this building will have for our leadership to end hunger is obvious. This facility will dignify our service to the community and state,” said Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of Hunger Task Force, in a statement released Monday.
“We are truly excited to look at the next chapter in our history, knowing it will assure free and local food access for so many while improving our stewardship of donor resources.”
You can make a donation at hungertaskforce.org/newHQ.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
