Million Meal Pack: Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin effort

If you were with us at all throughout wake up this morning, we sent Andrew Amuzu out to the Million Meal Pack, where there is a goal today to be able to pack 1 million meals for those in need here in our community. So we want to check in on some of the progress. We have Aaron Rice, of course, with Feeding America, Eastern Wisconsin, joining us right now. Aaron, how is it going out there? It's going great. Currently, from my understanding, we've packed 710,000 meals. So we have a little bit more to go. But overall, about 1,400 volunteers have been out here since early this morning. Wow. And again, it is the community showing up for those in need, which you and I chatted yesterday. But tell me a little bit more about what the need looks like in our community. Yeah. So right now, you know, one in six children are facing food insecurity. One in 10 individuals or one in eight individuals actually are facing food insecurity here in eastern Wisconsin. You know. You know, what we're trying to do is, you know, partner with as many folks as we possibly can, because we know as an organization that this is an effort that's going to take everyone. So the more people we can bring together to serve people and our neighbors here in the community, the better off we're going to be. And what are some of the meals that are being packed today? What does the food look like? Yeah. So today they are packs of jambalaya. So lentils, there are dehydrated vegetables in there. It's really tasty. I actually had a chance to try the meal once it was cooked. You just add water, heat it up, and you have a meal for a family of four. And I know we were chatting, you know, yesterday about how I feel like this would just be a fun volunteer opportunity. It felt like the vibes would be high. Is that accurate to say? It is. I mean the energy in this room has been absolutely incredible. We have everyone from DJ Shauna. Santa Claus has come out a little early for this season to visit with everyone. Loretta Butler was here earlier. Mayor Johnson was here. So incredible support across the board. Some really incredible people here just helping out the neighbors that need it. And what does that mean to, you know, Feeding America, Eastern Wisconsin? Yes, to have the big names show up like Leroy Butler, like the mayor, like Santa, but also to have all of these people behind you say, I'm going to give you two hours of my day to help pack these meals. Yeah. I mean, every time we've needed additional assistance from Milwaukee and eastern Wisconsin, people show up. I mean, this is truly how changes get made. It's neighbors helping neighbors. So out of the million meals, 240,000 meals are going to stay right here in eastern Wisconsin. The other meals will then be distributed out to other food banks across our region. And then we'll make sure that across our 35-county footprint that those meals are getting into the hands of those that need it most. Absolutely. For anyone who's watching right now who thinks, gosh, I would have loved to have volunteered today, how can they still help you guys out in the future? You can always visit us at feedingamericawi.org, where you can find volunteer opportunities, opportunities to donate. Obviously, we're going into the holiday season, which is incredibly important for us. So there's so many different ways that you can get involved. Are you able at all to kind of take us through the line as they pack these meals? What does it look like over there? I can't. So we'll take a walk through. Every station almost is completely full. So people are super excited. Like I said, neighbors helping neighbors, just an incredible opportunity for so many people here in Milwaukee to truly help and support many people that they may never even meet. You know, You know, they'll never know the name of the individual that received this bill, but the incredible impact that they're making just can't be described. I love seeing all of the waves and the hellos and, again, the energy there. Oh, the racing sausages are there, Aaron. Oh, that is incredible. Have they been helping pack any of the meals? You know, small arms make it a little difficult, but they've definitely helped keep the energy up, which is something that's been so important today. Absolutely. So we're at the tables. Each person just kind of has their own job of what they're packing? We are. So each individual has kind of their own role. So they're packing lentils, all of the things that would go into those bags. They'll come down the line, be packed into bags just like this one here. And then they will be sealed, put into a box, and then they're actually heading out into semi trucks to be taken to their final destination. That is so exciting. And again, you said you were, what, like three quarters of the way there to your goal of one million meals being packed? I would say at this point, we are at least at 750,000 meals. Wow, that is so exciting. Anything else you wanted to mention about the Million Meal Pack or ways that we can help you guys out as we enter this holiday season? Yeah, I would just say keep us in mind throughout this holiday season. But most importantly, I want to say thank you to our community. Thank You know, they've been absolutely incredible. 1,400 people coming out. I'm taking the time to actually, you know, help neighbors in need. As you can hear, there was just some cheers. Every time a box gets packed, there's cheers, there's bells to be rung. you. So I'm just incredibly grateful to the community. And we as an organization could not do this alone. Absolutely. And I love what you said there. You know, people coming together to help out their neighbors, even if they'll never know their name, they want to show up. To help them out, especially as, again, we enter that holiday season. Erin Rice joining us here live on Fox 6 Now. Erin, thank you so much. So cool to get to go inside there at the Million Meal Pack and see some celebrities, dare I say, with the racing sausages. So fun.