A Call to Action: Safeguarding Our Children’s Futures from Hunger’s Devastating Grasp

As Milwaukee’s most financially vulnerable residents demonstrate extraordinary resilience in rebuilding their lives following this summer’s historic floods, they—and over 273,000 children across Wisconsin, including more than 80,000 in Milwaukee County alone—now confront an existential threat. Nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites stand mere days from losing access to essential food assistance through FoodShare and related programs.

This crisis is a federally-imposed famine afflicting the innocent—above all, our children—who depend on these lifelines for survival and thriving.

Hunger’s toll on children is swift and irreversible. Within days, fatigue clouds young minds, irritability sparks behavioral chaos, and concentration shatters—derailing learning and school performance. Within weeks, weakened immune systems invite illness, while growth and development stall. Long-term, it breeds chronic health crises like asthma and anemia, mental health breakdowns including anxiety and depression, and educational failures that limit lifetime earnings and burden our society.

Food insecurity transcends partisan lines, striking at the heart of communities statewide. As Milwaukee Council members, we urgently implore our federal representatives to forge a bipartisan agreement that averts this catastrophe and recognize the efforts of those who are committed to feeding our families and affordable healthcare.

We also call upon our partners in Madison to act with equal dispatch, developing robust contingency measures should Washington remain deadlocked. We specifically recognize the recent introduction of SB-574 and AB-578, which would provide critical state funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program—safeguarding nutrition for pregnant mothers, newborns, and toddlers under 5. Yet these vital bills currently lack the bipartisan support and traction they deserve—despite protecting our youngest and most vulnerable children, regardless of political party. We implore legislators from both sides of the aisle to rally behind these measures without delay, while urgently advancing comparable protections for FoodShare and all essential programs serving children and families.

We commend Governor Evers for his decisive leadership in partnering with other states to pursue judicial release of USDA contingency funds. Yet our shared future demands more than reliance on distant decisions. Measures like food pantries are valuable, but should be a last resort in a larger and well-funded ecosystem that helps our neighbors in need.

Just two weeks ago, Wisconsin announced a $4.6 billion fiscal surplus for 2024. With $114 million in federal aid—and hundreds of thousands of children’s futures—hanging in the balance, how can we, in good conscience, hoard these billions while a mere 2.5% could secure our children’s most basic needs and prevent lifelong harm? We ask Gov. Evers to explore all possible resources that could be released to the City of Milwaukee.

Creative, collaborative solutions must prevail. If even one child goes hungry to preserve a larger ledger, we have failed as a society and forsaken our common decency.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.