Given the ongoing government shutdown, local families here in Milwaukee receiving SNAP may not receive their food benefits on November 1.

I’m fundraising to send students at La Escuela Fratney (K-6 in Milwaukee Public Schools) home with a food bag on Friday, October 31. Ideally, I’d like to offer bags to all 530 students. As one of many concerned citizens, I want to be sure the entire school community is well cared for during these uncertain times.

—Edited to add (11/6): 

We met our initial goal of distributing food bags to all students on October 31. We are continuing to fundraise in hopes of providing ongoing support through November. 

As of this writing on November 6, there is no timeline for SNAP benefits to be restored. We also completed our second schoolwide distribution today (roughly 500 bags). 

We are hoping to have a larger food distribution on November 21. 

We are particularly concerned about the effort on the 21st because students are out of school the entire week of Thanksgiving and will not have access to the guaranteed meals that school provides. 

Thank you in advance for your support and willingness to share this fundraiser with your network! 

—Edited to add (11/17) 

Although SNAP benefits have been restored, we are still preparing for a larger food distribution on Friday. MPS students receive meals and snacks for free at school, so families will see a notable increase in their grocery costs when kids are home all week from school. 

In order to prepare larger food bags, we need to continue raising funds and collecting local food donations. We’d love your support!