As Milwaukee faces the growing concern around interruption in federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) funding, local leaders are turning to schools and students to help support families in need of food. Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), the largest district in the state, has become a central partner in coordinating food donation, spreading information, and ensuring that young people and their families know where to turn for help. 

Both Mayor Cavalier Johnson and County Executive David Crowley emphasised the essential role students can play in strengthening Milwaukee during this difficult time for people of Wisconsin. Mayor Johnson explained that Milwaukee public schools have always been more than an educational institution; they’re a vital support system for students and their families. Here is what Mayor Cavalier Johnson further said, “In my interaction with Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, we have mutually agreed to work collaboratively on a wide range of topics. As a community partner, MPS will be a location for donations and advocate for support as Milwaukee navigates the interruption in SNAP funding. It is important to note that MPS plays a huge role in feeding young residents through meal programs at all its schools.” 

County Executive David Crowley echoed this emphasis on partnership, stressing the unique reach MPS has across the city. “Like all school districts in Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Public Schools is one of our most important partners,” Crowley mentioned. “MPS serves thousands of students across the city, many of whom rely on consistent access to meals that may be impacted by the federal government shutdown. By partnering with MPS, Milwaukee County, and the city of Milwaukee are continuing to work to make sure students and their families have the support and information they need about local food resources and are here to access assistance.”

Both leaders agreed that students are not just bystanders; they are essential to the success of this community-wide effort. “Students can play important roles,” Mayor Johnson said, “if circumstances allow, they can donate food. They can also provide voices to alert the entire city of the urgent need to support the agencies that address hunger, such as Feed America Eastern Wisconsin. 

The Milwaukee Public School was reached by the Milwaukee health department about the food drive. As soon as they were aware of SNAP benefits being delayed for Wisconsin residents, they immediately recognized the need for action on the part of the local government. This helped them to decide to say yes to both collecting food and participating in the announcement about the food drive. According to Anthony Tagliavia, Milwaukee Public Schools’ Chief Communications Officer, “No one should go hungry.  We are grateful for anyone in our community who steps up to support those in need- and we recognize that some of our students, families, and staff are among those in greatest need.” Milwaukee Public Schools agreed to serve as a donation site for community members to donate their non-perishable food items to the drive. They did this by providing large donation boxes to schools. 

Crowley emphasized that students have real power to make a difference, no matter their age or background. “High school students and school organizations have the power to make an impact,” Crowley stated. He encouraged organizations, including high school athletics and extracurricular groups, to give monetary contributions, to raise awareness, to volunteer in neighbourhoods, and to package food boxes to deliver to families and people in need.

One of the most important tools in helping families is simply making sure they know where to go for help. Mayor Johnson highlighted one key resource. “One important way for students and organizations to get involved is to spread vital information about resources that are available to people in need,” Johnson further stated. “The most important messages to connect people with impact 211. I do not want people to suffer in silence because they do not know where to ask for help.”

Crowley added that awareness could be lifesaving for the vulnerable residents of Milwaukee. “Use school announcements and social media to ensure your friends and neighbours know where they can receive support, especially for our older adults who may have difficulty accessing information,” Crowley mentioned. 

Both Johnson and Crowley reflected on how their own experience growing up in Milwaukee shaped their commitment to community service.

Crowley shared that his connection to food insecurity is deeply personal. “I grew up in Milwaukee, and my family dealt with both food and housing insecurity, so I understand what it feels like to worry about basic needs. He said, “That experience taught me that a community is strongest when we take care of one another. At the end of the day, I believe food is a human right.” 

Both leaders ultimately delivered the same message: students are not the future leaders of Milwaukee; they are leaders right now. “Together, as a community, we are best positioned to solve the challenges we face,” Mayor Johnson emphasised. Crowley closed with a similar message of empowerment for Milwaukee’s youth. “Challenging times can make you feel powerless, but they also reveal how powerful a community can be when people step in and step up,” he said. “Don’t underestimate the impact you can have right where you are. Small actions can make a big difference, and I believe in you.”

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers visited Bay View High School via Zoom on Dec. 3, 2025, to answer questions from journalism and history students about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits and state food policies. Evers highlighted several actions his administration has taken to ensure that Wisconsin residents continue to receive their SNAP benefits. 

At the state level, Wisconsin has successfully taken the Trump administration to court over the federal government, withholding SNAP benefits from over 700,000 Wisconsin residents. Twenty-five states, including Wisconsin, sued the Trump administration over halting SNAP benefit payments during the federal government shutdown. Wisconsin won the case when a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration must release benefits on Nov. 6, 2025.  Gov. Tony Evers said,  “There are still some issues to work out, but we feel confident that we are in a good place today.” 

After the government shutdown ended and Congress returned to work, it agreed to keep the SNAP funding in place through September of 2026, allowing Wisconsin families to avoid worrying about losing benefits for another 11 months. 

The Trump administration also demanded that all states, including Wisconsin, submit information on SNAP recipients, including their immigration statuses, and other details that Evers said are irrelevant to determining eligibility for food assistance. This raised concerns for families who receive SNAP benefits. According to Evers, “We are fighting in court around these issues, we are in court again, we continue to win those cases, and the Trump administration is now going after people that might be immigrants. We are trying to work it out in court.”  

To send a clear message on SNAP policies, the Evers administration has continued fighting attempts by the Trump administration to withhold SNAP benefits from Wisconsin families who rely on them. Evers said he wanted to ensure that families get food to eat every day because getting food is a basic human right. SNAP is a federal program designed to combat food insecurity, with funding provided by the federal government to every state.

Evers also stressed the crucial role Congress plays in making decisions surrounding SNAP benefits. He said that “we need more people like Gwen Moore to make sure that Congress is actually involved with making policy for their state’s residents.” He indicated that Congress should stop the federal government from making decisions that can lead to people losing their benefits, causing harm to the people of Wisconsin.

“Unlike other states, the governor of Wisconsin does not have the power to appropriate funding by executive order or unilateral mechanisms that would continue funding FoodShare benefits or other resources to food pantries.’ according to an official press release provided by the governor’s office on Oct. 31, 2025.  “Appropriating funding to help continue providing Wisconsin FoodShare benefits or support would require a bill to be passed by both houses of the Republican-controlled Wisconsin State Legislature, which have so far indicated they have no intention or plans to do so.” 

Evers emphasized that protecting access to food is not just a legal or political issue, but a deeply personal priority that guides his work across Wisconsin, especially when it comes to children and schools.

“If the Trump administration has an interest in doing the right thing, I am all for it,” Evers said. “If the Trump administration wants to get rid of food, give less money to SNAP, or ask for information about SNAP recipients, especially from Wisconsin residents, my administration will take the federal government to court again.”

Evers’ stance on defending food assistance at the state and federal level is reflected in how he approaches food access in Wisconsin schools, where he sees nutrition as essential to students’ health and success.

Every time Evers visits a school, he stops to talk with food service workers because he believes they play an important role in making sure that students are healthy and well supported throughout the school day. He also said he wants to make sure that the food being served at Milwaukee Public Schools is nutritious and that the food is made from the highest-quality ingredients possible. Evers stated that “making sure kids have nutritious food at school is my top priority.”

By prioritizing both the people who prepare school meals and the quality of the food itself, Evers reinforces his commitment to supporting students’ health, learning, learning and overall well-being.