The economic downturn has worsened the problem of poverty and hunger in communities across the country, including Milwaukee. Now, a renewed effort is underway to help those in need. WUWM’s LaToya Dennis has more.
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee decided that the topic of its 40th anniversary luncheon Thursday would be ending hunger and poverty. The group invited Todd Beckmann as its speaker. He’s president of Bread for the World. The Washington D.C. based organization advocates for poor people everywhere.
“When you come to the U.S., it’s somewhat of a scandal because we are so richly blessed, but we have not made sustained progress against poverty and hunger in the last 40 years,” Beckmann says.
Beckmann says while more money is being spent to improve the quality of life for poorer citizens, the dollars need to be used more efficiently. He says there’s no reason Americans, or Milwaukeeans, should not be getting enough to eat.
“It’s clear that if Bangladesh and Brazil and the United Kingdom can reduce poverty, it is doable in Milwaukee,” Beckmann says.
Beckmann believes there is a renewed energy to ensure no one goes without in the United States. Sherrie Tussler hopes he’s right. She’s executive director of Milwaukee’s Hunger Task Force. Tussler says ever since the economy tanked, she’s noticed something.
“I don’t really have to tell the stories that I used to have to tell before about hunger, cause almost everyone of us knows somebody who has been affected by a job loss, or a loss of health insurance coverage, somebody who can’t make their mortgage or rent payment,” Tussler says.
According to Tussler, Milwaukee is the 11th poorest large city in the country, and she says it shows.
“Soup kitchens and homeless shelters are operating at full tilt right now. We’ve seen more than 59,000 meals prepared by the soup kitchens and homeless shelters. As many as 40,000 people stand in line in front of a food pantry every single month here in Milwaukee County. We know that the food stamp program has more than 200,000 people using it here in Milwaukee County, which is one in five of our residents,” Tussler says.
Tussler says even before the economic meltdown, people in Milwaukee were struggling. She hopes the attention the bad economy is focusing on the problem encourages more people to get involved. She says society cannot afford to continue to leave so many behind.
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