Brings Joy to Milwaukee: Community Joy Day Provides Holiday Resources to Over 200 Families | WUWM 89.7 FM

Families in Milwaukee’s Metcalfe Park neighborhood recently gathered at a local food bank to stock up on holiday staples.

The Jewish Community Pantry hosted its annual Community Joy Day, providing, among other things, fresh produce and a turkey or ham. This year they expected to feed more than 200 households.

The Jewish Community Pantry has been serving Milwaukee for more than 50 years. One way we continue to do this is through the annual Community Joy Day event. The pantry works with Metcalfe Park Community Bridges to ensure residents have the food they need for the holidays.

Even the snow and freezing cold did not stop staff and volunteers from helping residents access necessary resources for their families.

The holidays can be a particularly busy and difficult time for some people. So I asked myself what makes her happy. First, I spoke to some staff and volunteers to hear their answers.

Heidi Gould, director of the Jewish Community Pantry, says: “I enjoy spending time with my family and young children, but here at the pantry I connect with the community, listen to people’s stories and find ways to connect can strengthen each other.” “Getting up is always a way to keep my spirits up, even when we have those gray winter days in Milwaukee.”

Santa was even present at Community Joy Day. Well, it was Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, dressed as Santa Claus. He says he enjoys seeing the impact the food bank has on the communities it serves.

“It’s gratifying that people are getting a part of their vacation that they might not have had if the community hadn’t invested in the pantry and the pantry was able to do good for other people.” “At the same time, hunger knows no holidays,” Shapiro says. “People pay a lot of attention to Thanksgiving and Christmas.” But if you don’t have a guaranteed meal or can’t feed your family, that happens in February too, and so this pantry is open all the time, feeding our community, which is ten every year – and comprising twenty thousand people, fills me with joy.”

At the pantry entrance, families waited to receive their food for the holidays. I asked some of them what brings them joy during the holidays.

OD Wood says he is happy to celebrate them. “Just seeing the other people out here and moving around makes me happy that everyone seems to be going about their business,” Wood said.

Other guests say their families were a source of joy at this time of year.

Aquillas Scott says, “The only things that bring me joy are my grandchildren and the people who brought them here.”

And Octavia Thomas says it’s her children who put a smile on her face during the holidays: “My children. I just like seeing the smiles on their faces. It’s a joy to actually see something. They don’t really get a lot of things, and we don’t really get a lot, so it’s fun to see their expressions. It’s a different expression every year. So, I’m happy.”

The holiday season can be full of emotions – and financial difficulties – for families.

Community Joy Day is just one local initiative that helps support those in need.