<h2 style="text-align: center"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://interchangefoodpantry.org/donate/">Help support the Interchange Food Pantry!</a></h2>On average, IFP helps about 30,000 Milwaukee individuals struggling with food insecurity each year. These guests are the beneficiaries of your contributions and our commitment to provide nutritious food with a strong emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables.Children represent 47% of those we serve, and we are committed to offering nutritious food which impact a young person’s health, growth, and ability to learn. IFP’s food program also helps adults and seniors focus their limited resources on other basic needs including rent, utilities, and medication.We believe our guests deserve the very best. Many live in food deserts where needs are greatest, and there is limited access to fresh produce.Your gift is extremely important because it provides resources that make an immediate impact and help our neighbors.

Support Interchange Food Pantry with a Donation Today

Spectrum News 1 Reporter Katarina Velazquez recently reported on the food pantry and our efforts to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to our guests.Interchange Food Pantry and our dedicated volunteers were recently featured in a story from Spectrum News 1 Milwaukee on the impact of rising food prices.“A Milwaukee food pantry that serves high-quality food to its guests asking for community help. The Interchange Food Pantry is fundraising, hoping to keep up with the rising prices of fresh foods and the demand from the community.‘With the food prices going up it’s really affecting our guests to not be able to afford what they really need,’ said pantry director George Neureuther.“Watch and share the full story here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/3KuqO63">https://bit.ly/3KuqO63</a>And if able, support our efforts with a donation: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://gofund.me/f827bfe0">https://gofund.me/f827bfe0</a>

Interchange Food Pantry featured in Spectrum News 1 story

The Interchange Food Pantry remains open and has changed our procedures in order for our guests to receive food in a safe manner. Effective immediately:<ul><li>Guests line up outside the pantry entrance and keep six feet apart from each other.</li><li>We will come outside, record your name, and the number of people in your household.</li><li>Guests will stay outside while our volunteers pack your order.</li><li>We will bring your food out to you.</li></ul>

The Interchange Food Pantry is open!

Interchange Food Pantry “1000 Hams and Turkeys” Holiday DriveInterchange Food Pantry’s holiday dinner drive is underway! With protein prices soaring, our pantry guests up to 4,000 per month, and our usual donation sources dried up after the pandemic, we are reaching out for help.Our goal is to provide 1,000 families among our pantry guests with a festive holiday dinner this Thanksgiving or Christmas. Each $25 donation will provide a turkey or ham to feed a family of 4-6 people. Please donate by scanning the QR code below with your phone.Or click on our donate page on this websiteOr you can text INTERCHANGE to 53-555, or mail a&nbsp;check to&nbsp;Interchange Food Pantry, 1105 N. Waverly Place, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (write “Holiday” on the memo line).Can you help make a holiday dinner happen?

“1,000 Hams and Turkeys” Holiday Drive

Pantry guest Clyde has been coming to the Interchange Food Pantry for a few years now.“Someone told me the pantry was here,” he said. “It saves me time instead of going to the south side, since I live close by and take the bus.”He encourages others to visit the pantry if they need some extra help.“Come on down. The pantry is here, it’s here for everybody. That’s how I look at it,” he said.Clyde comes to the pantry regularly but there are times he doesn’t need the extra help, and he hopes that ends up helping others in need.“When I have money in my pocket, I don’t want to be taking food from somebody else,” Clyde explained.Of course, Interchange Food Pantry helps anyone in need and strives to have enough supplies to go around for all the guests who come to our doors..Although hunger relief is serious business, Clyde joked and laughed to lighten the mood as he waited in line for his groceries. He hopes that his positivity is contagious.“We’ve gotta help each other,” he said.Thank you, Clyde, for coming to the pantry today! Do you know someone who could use help with groceries? Send them our way, since Interchange Food Pantry serves guests regardless of zip code.

Pamela is a regular guest who has been coming to the pantry for the past few years.“It’s been so many years since I first learned about the pantry. I was out somewhere and heard someone say there’s a food pantry between Knapp and Juneau. And that was almost 3 years ago.”She’s been coming regularly since and enjoys the connections she’s made here during a difficult few years, including with pantry director George.“George is my best friend! I adore him. I’ve come to the pantry pretty regularly since then these past few years.”She shared one of her favorite memories from the pantry involved receiving a Thanksgiving ham.“One Thanksgiving, I didn’t have a ham. I had already gotten my food from the pantry, but George hollered, ‘Hey, I’ve got something for you.’ And he gave me a ham. It was a big ham—it looked like the size of a cow!”Pamela expressed gratitude for the food pantry’s support as she navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, including two times she came down with COVID herself.“The first time I had COVID, I went to the hospital for four weeks. It was just that bad. I couldn’t do anything. I’ve been really afraid of that COVID. I haven’t had an outing or family over because of it.”The food pantry has been a bright spot for Pamela in these trying times, with volunteers able to bring her groceries to the car for her to be safe.“I always make my way to this pantry because I don’t get out that much. I’m so grateful the pantry is here. I feel safe here. As long as we keep masking up and social distancing! So, I’d ask people, ‘Please, mask up!’ And go get tested if you have a cough or feel sick.”Thanks for coming to the pantry, Pamela! We appreciate you!Interchange Food Pantry continues to ask guests and volunteers to wear masks, practice social distancing, and get vaccinated against COVID-19 when possible, for the continued safety of everyone we serve. We appreciate your cooperation!

Meet James, a recent guest at the pantry during a busy Saturday morning.“The pantry loads me up and feeds me like a king,” James said, about Interchange. He has been coming here regularly for groceries ever since learning about the pantry from a friend.“A friend of mine knew one of the volunteers, and so they started coming to get food. I then started coming with this friend to get groceries. And I’ve been coming ever since.”“The service here is excellent,” James said. “ The people are really, really nice. And the pantry gives me more food than I know what to do with. It’s also handy because it’s not very far from my house.”“My only complaint is that I have to carry my groceries uphill to get home,” he joked, pointing up Juneau Avenue.Leaving with a full load of groceries, we hope James enjoys the food and comes back again soon!

On a busy Saturday morning with fifteen to twenty guests waiting in line to be served, we chatted with Gary, a returning guest of the pantry.“I heard about the pantry from a friend,” Gary said, when asked how he first learned about the pantry. Since discovering the pantry, Gary has come twice to get groceries.“There’s very good service here,” Gary said. “I appreciate the food quality too.”“God bless,” Gary added, in appreciation. Shortly after our interview, Gary’s cart of groceries were ready for pick-up.Thank you for coming to the pantry, Gary! We’re glad we can be of service to you and our other guests.

Kristie and Stephen are neighbors who were picking up groceries for their families today. We included vegetarian options in their order for those in their households that don’t eat meat. Big thanks to them and our other guests for brightening our day on this rainy, spring morning!Want to help provide fresh, healthy food to guests like Kristie and Stephen? Support the pantry with a donation today: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://gofund.me/f827bfe0">https://gofund.me/f827bfe0</a>

Meet regular pantry guest Isaac Snell! Isaac first learned about the pantry after meeting Interchange Food Pantry Director George. He has become a regular guest ever since. “I come and get food for me and my daughter, and then give anything that’s left over to the people in my apartment building who’ve got kids,” he said.“The pantry helps people in need of food, helping as much as they can,” Isaac said.When asked about what the pantry means to him, Isaac responded, “The pantry is helping feed America, and taking care of kids. This right here is what it’s all about.”Want to help provide fresh, healthy food to guests like Isaac? Support the pantry with a donation today: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://gofund.me/f827bfe0">https://gofund.me/f827bfe0</a>

Jim is part of a group of volunteers from the Wauwatosa Lodge of Freemasons, and he has volunteered at the pantry a few times before.<blockquote>“We first got an invitation for our group to volunteer, after pantry director George spoke to our group about volunteer opportunities.”</blockquote>The group Jim volunteers with have been helping guests with groceries this morning.<blockquote>“Today, I’m assisting guests with their shopping, fulfilling orders and taking groceries out to cars—just helping guests with their groceries. I also just make sure our guests are generally doing okay and feel comfortable, by talking to them and letting them know that the groceries are coming from a friend.”</blockquote>Jim appreciates that the pantry is about more than just food.<blockquote>“These interactions have been fantastic. Everyone is really grateful. It’s good to see people smile and laugh. We’re giving them food but also emotional support and encouragement as well. So that’s fulfilling.”</blockquote>Jim encourages other groups of volunteers to consider volunteering at Interchange.<blockquote>“It doesn’t take much time in the grand scheme of things. It’s just a little bit of your week. It’s nice to get out and meet new people. If we did a little more helping regularly, I think we’d have a better society.”</blockquote>Do you or your organization have a group of volunteers interested in helping out at the pantry? We are happy to organize volunteer opportunities for groups of any size with advance notice. Reach out for more information and to schedule!

Regular pantry volunteer Hannah has been coming to help at the pantry most Saturdays for the past year.“I started last summer, after I moved here,” she said. “I wanted to get involved in a food pantry and honestly just Googled what pantries were nearby. Luckily Interchange popped up, and I live pretty close by, so I just signed up and started coming to volunteer.”In addition to volunteering at the pantry, Hannah works in real estate and for fun enjoys running with the Milwaukee Running Group. She says she really enjoys running by the lake. While she stays busy, she’s glad she has time to volunteer regularly too.“Recently I’ve been the name taker, helping with operations and welcoming guests to the pantry,” she said. “That’s fun because I get to be social and interact. Everyone’s always really high energy, so I love taking names.”“I also like to organize things, so all the prep work before we open, like getting bags together, is usually really satisfying too. I enjoy that too,” she added.We asked Hannah what she’d say to someone who is interested in volunteering but hasn’t come in yet.“I would say, definitely come in and just try it. When you’re taking the time to give back to your community, it helps everybody else, and it helps you, it’s a good way to get out of the house and just do something. And, I know we always need volunteers,” Hannah said.We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Thanks for volunteering with Interchange, Hannah, we appreciate your gift of service!Curious about volunteering with Interchange? Contact us for the latest schedule and to find a time to come in for your first volunteer shift!

Maddie is a rising senior at West Allis Central High School and is volunteering at Interchange a few times each week this summer.<blockquote>“I just wanted to give back to the community and get the feel of a new environment, since this isn’t something I’ve done before.”</blockquote>Maddie’s mom originally found the opportunity, while they were looking for places to volunteer for Maddie’s National Honors Society commitment.“We were looking up places to volunteer, and this one came up. And I fell in love with the site,” Maddie explained.When asked about her favorite activity to do while volunteering, she responded, “My favorite would be shopping. I just recently prepped bags for Saturdays, but I mostly like shopping for the guests when the pantry is open.”For fun, Maddie is on her school’s volleyball team, whose season starts soon. Once school and volleyball are in full swing, Maddie will cut back her volunteer hours, but she still hopes to come help out at the pantry on weekends.“It’s a really good experience. The food pantry teaches you a lot about people. It changes your whole perception of how you view people,” she said. “It’s really a good way to be productive, as well. I encourage everybody to try to volunteer here.”Thanks for your gift of service, Maddie!

Mother and daughter team Jessica and Raena worked their first shift at Interchange Food Pantry today—on a busy Saturday.“We first learned about Interchange online,” said Jessica, who had gotten in touch with us about volunteer opportunities earlier this week.“We found multiple opportunities but this one seemed to be the most interesting, so we chose to come here,” said Raena, who is 11 years old. Raena is applying to the national Junior Honor Society, so she and her mom were looking for places to volunteer this summer.“There’s a lot of activity going on here!” added Jessica, Raena’s mother, who expressed her own enthusiasm for joining Interchange to volunteer on a busy Saturday.The mother and daughter team helped pack fruit and vegetables in produce bags to start and then moved upstairs to help check-in guests.“Now we’re busy doing the ticket counts,” said Raena. Seated in the front of the pantry, the pair kept track of guests and wrote down orders on tickets for volunteer shoppers to then pack and deliver groceries to pantry guests.When asked if they felt they were having an impact and whether they would want to come back, both responded, “Oh yeah, this is fun! It’s nice to help out any way that you can.”And when asked what their favorite part about volunteering has been during their first shift, Raena enthusiastically responded, “The people!”We appreciate the enthusiasm of first-time volunteers like these two—thank you for your gift of service, Raena and Jessica!Are you interested in starting to volunteer with the Interchange Food Pantry? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://interchangefoodpantry.org/contact/">Contact us</a> for the volunteer schedule and to learn more about opportunities for new volunteers.

Cameron is a new volunteer at Interchange Food Pantry, who we recently spoke with on his first day of volunteering.“I first saw the opportunity to volunteer on a website called VolunteerMatch. I live in the area and used to walk around here all the time, so I recognized the church and location,” said Cameron, speaking about how he first learned about Interchange and the volunteer opportunity, which are located at Village Church in Milwaukee.We spoke with Cameron as he was helping pack produce bags for Interchange guests.“This is good work. It feels important, which is what matters. And it’s going well,” he said. In addition to packing produce bags, Cameron also helped with guest shopping day tasks earlier in his shift, so he helped gather and distribute bags of groceries to Interchange guests.“Volunteering here feels fulfilling—I’ve only been here a few hours, and it feels like you’re doing something important when you come to volunteer,” Cameron said.Thanks for starting to volunteer with us, Cameron!Are you interested in starting to volunteer with the Interchange Food Pantry? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://interchangefoodpantry.org/contact/">Contact us</a> for the volunteer schedule and to learn more about opportunities for new volunteers.

Abby is a new volunteer at Interchange and new to Milwaukee. Originally from Colorado and going to school in Michigan, Abby is here in Milwaukee for the summer, while she works as an intern with Northwestern Mutual.“I knew I really liked helping out those in need,” Abby said, about what motivated her to volunteer.“I found out about Interchange after searching on the internet. This came up, and it seemed like a really great place,” she said.“It seems like Interchange has got its operations down to a science. Everything flows really well. People seem to really value what you do here, and it seems like Interchange has a really holistic approach to serving people,” Abby said.When asked what advice she’d give new volunteers or those interested in coming to Interchange for the first time, Abby responded, “There’s always a place where you can start helping out—you won’t be bored. Everyone is really lovely here.”Thanks for volunteering with us this summer, Abby!Are you interested in starting to volunteer with the Interchange Food Pantry? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://interchangefoodpantry.org/contact/">Contact us</a> for the volunteer schedule and to learn more about opportunities for new volunteers.

Ryan has been a volunteer with Interchange for the past two years, since around when the COVID-19 pandemic started.“I wanted to help out, and this seemed like a good place to do that,” Ryan said.He and his family typically volunteer a couple Sundays each month, when there is a food delivery to supply the Interchange Food Pantry satellite location at St. Mark AME Church. Ryan helps out on other days as needed, as well..“I find packing the bags for guests to be really therapeutic, since you do a kind of similar motion again and again. It’s easy to clear your mind. I get a lot of joy out of that,” Ryan said, about his favorite activities as a volunteer.“Helping people of course is also great; there’s always joy in that,” he added. “Helping others will always help you in ways you won’t recognize at first, and then eventually you’ll start to see the positive benefits for yourself and others.”We’re glad that Ryan finds volunteering at Interchange so rewarding! Are you interested in volunteering with the Interchange Food Pantry? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://interchangefoodpantry.org/contact/">Contact us</a> to learn more about opportunities and our schedule for volunteering.

“I’ve been volunteering with Interchange for about two years now. It’s hard to count the number of times I’ve volunteered!” Natalie said, explaining how long she’s been volunteering at the food pantry.“Me and my family wanted to get involved in the community, so we started researching places to volunteer. And we found Interchange!” Natalie said, explaining how she first started volunteering with us. We’re glad she and her family found us!When asked about her favorite volunteer activities, she said, “I used to write tickets and that was always really fun. But I also always enjoy shopping.” On the busy Saturday when we chatted, Natalie has been helpful and efficient at shopping duties, picking out grocery items and assembling orders to deliver to our guests who are waiting outside.“Anyone can volunteer here, it’s a really fun place. Everyone is really friendly. And it’s a great way to help out the community,” she added about volunteer opportunities with Interchange.Interested in volunteering with the Interchange Food Pantry? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://interchangefoodpantry.org/contact/">Contact us</a> to learn more about opportunities and our schedule for volunteering!

Volunteer Arlene is a regular at Interchange, and she has been volunteering with us since last fall. After a move to nearby Jefferson Court apartments, she was looking for something to do. Volunteering at Interchange ended up being a great fit and close by too.“I knew the director George from a long time ago, and I was looking for a place to volunteer. So, I called up George, and he said to come down,” said Arlene, about how she first heard about the pantry and started volunteering here.“I showed information about my immunization from COVID. I started volunteering the next day, and I’ve been down here ever since,” she said.In terms of volunteer activities, Arlene enjoys packing products and opening bags, which makes bagging all the groceries easier and more efficient for other volunteers.“Well, I like packing, helping people, whatever they need doing I pitch in to help,” Arlene said. “Opening bags too because that’s very important. It saves time to open them ahead of time.”Arlene’s final words for us: “Every little bit helps,” she said.&nbsp;Indeed, every little bit of volunteering helps! We certainly appreciate Arlene’s gift of service and are grateful she chooses to volunteer with us.

Big thanks to volunteer Robert McCracken (left in photo) for a recent toilet paper donation!An employee of Kimberly Clark, Robert won an auction at work for 400 rolls of reduced price, high quality bathroom tissue. He knew that this supply would be much appreciated at Interchange. What a great gift!

Earlier this week, we had a team from Kohl’s Store Experience department volunteer with us. They were a big help! Many thanks to Kris, Cindy, Jodi, Jeffrey, and John, for lending a hand to help the pantry run smoothly.Throughout the month of April, other Kohl’s employees will be joining us and giving their gift of service. We’re looking forward to having them volunteer with us!Are you interested in organizing a group volunteer event with your coworkers? Please reach out by sending a message through our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://interchangefoodpantry.org/contact/">contact page</a>. We can usually accommodate larger groups of volunteers (3+ people) with some notice.

Niki came to volunteer with her mom at the pantry this morning. She’s been volunteering at the pantry for about a year and a half, and enjoys helping with different tasks.“I got started volunteering here with my mother, who first told me about it, and I decided to first come with my sister. I really like the experience.”Asked what her favorite part of volunteering was, Niki replied,“What I think my favorite part about volunteering is doing the produce bags. It’s fun and satisfying to put all the different fruits and vegetables together in the bags for the guests.”Now in eighth grade, we appreciate Niki making volunteering a priority between school and other extracurriculars on her plate!Interested in following Niki’s lead and volunteering with your family at the pantry? We have numerous roles and shifts available suitable for a variety of ages and would welcome the gift of service!

Natalie first got involved with volunteering at Interchange Food Pantry after moving back from being away for college. “I went onto a website for volunteering to get involved in the community last summer and found this opportunity, and I’ve been here most Saturdays ever since for about a year now,” she said.When asked what she enjoys about volunteering, Natalie said, “I get here early. I like the setup and making bags to have ready for everyone. Then once we’re open, I like greeting our guests, shopping for them, gathering all the food in an order, and delivering it to them. Generally, interacting with our guests is my favorite part.”“You get to know our guests, recognize them and their names and ask about their families when they arrive,” she added. “It’s really nice to get to talk to people who I might not normally interact with otherwise. I think it’s such a great opportunity to get to know other people and get involved in the community.”Fun facts: Natalie speaks Spanish, so she’s able to translate for our guests who are more comfortable speaking Spanish. She also enjoys playing the online word game Semantle with other volunteers, when there is downtime in between guests.Interested in following Natalie’s lead and volunteering at the pantry? We have numerous roles and shifts available and would welcome your gift of service! If you aren’t able to volunteer, you can still support the pantry with a generous donation to our Healthy Food Fund: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://gofund.me/f827bfe0">gofund.me/f827bfe0</a>

Today, we’re excited to highlight regular pantry volunteer and board member, Lin McCracken. As part of the Board of Directors, Lin represents her church North Shore Presbyterian, one of the member congregations of Interchange, and she also assists with the Board’s Operations Committee, where she works behind the scenes to help keep the pantry running smoothly.Lin recently shared with us what motivates her to volunteer with Interchange.“Out of all the volunteering I’ve done, this work with Interchange caught me the most. Many of us take for granted that we are going to have something to eat, but there are so many people who have to choose between eating today and meeting some other need,” she said.“We’re doing so much good for our guests by providing healthy food and culturally appropriate items,” Lin said.“We’re taking care of people and building relationships with those we see regularly, which is really gratifying. We don’t want our guests to feel any sense of embarrassment when they come to the pantry. We want everyone to feel that they’re welcome and valued here,” she added.Lin makes sure she brings humor, compassion, and positive energy to volunteering at the pantry, adding a personal touch like giving a child a high-five or checking in with a new guest on how their day is going, when they are waiting for their groceries.Interested in following Lin’s lead and volunteering at the pantry? We have numerous roles and shifts available, from prepping food bags to serving guests—we would welcome your gift of service! If you aren’t able to volunteer, you can still support the pantry with a generous donation to our Healthy Food Fund: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://gofund.me/f827bfe0">https://gofund.me/f827bfe0</a>

Have you met our volunteer Caroline? She volunteers at the pantry most Saturdays and was helping sign in guests today!“I’ve been volunteering since right after the pandemic first started. It’s been a really great experience serving the community during such a challenging time for so many people. I’ve been coming to volunteer as many Saturdays as I can since then.”When asked what keeps her coming back to volunteer each week, Caroline answered, “It’s really all about community for me. I love being able to help and meet all of the guests, providing them with really good food and fresh produce. I also really enjoy the friends I’ve made among the other volunteers too,” she added.Interested in joining Caroline and volunteering at the pantry? We have numerous roles and shifts available, from prepping food bags to serving guests. Send us a message — we would welcome your gift of service!

Meet Jenny, who has volunteered with us for the past 2 years. Every time Jenny volunteers, she chips in on a variety of roles to help the pantry run smoothly.“My favorite part of volunteering is being able to supply our guests with food to get through the week. I like that the pantry helps anyone who shows up regardless of where they live in the city and provides folks with fresh, healthy food,” she says.Fun fact: Jenny speaks Russian, which helps her connect with some of our local pantry guests who are most comfortable communicating in Russian.We’re so grateful for the compassion and efforts of our wonderful, dedicated volunteers like Jenny. Interested in volunteering? Contact us!