Muskego Retailer Helps in Donating $800K to Charity

If you happened to purchase a book or plush throughout the year as you stood in line at Kohl's consider the announcement by Kohl's one you can share in.

The retailer announced last week that an $800,000 donation to Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee was made "to ensure that the emergency need for food is met now, when food pantry shelves are low on essentials such as peanut butter, dry milk and canned vegetables."

Part of the donation immediately filled emergency food supplies at Hunger Task Force’s network of 82 food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters throughout the Milwaukee area, providing dry milk, cereal, peanut butter, canned vegetables and soup as well as other food staples that were in urgent need. The remainder of the donation will be used to ensure appropriate supplies of food to Hunger Task Force’s network of food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the year.

According to a statement, "the donation will help provide appropriate food supplies throughout the year for the approximately 35,000 people that rely on food pantries and soup kitchens in the area each month. With the uncertain economy, many charitable organizations are faced with a greater demand for services... and 30 percent of charitable organizations reported a decrease in fundraising from last year."

The donation is funded through the Kohl’s Cares^® cause merchandise program, which sells special merchandise, including plush toys and books, and donates 100 percent of the net profit to benefit children’s health and education initiatives nationwide.  

“Everyone at Kohl’s was deeply moved when Hunger Task Force informed us that they would be unable to provide some of their crucial services due to lack of funds. We felt fortunate to be in a position to help during this time of need,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “Nearly 60,000 meals are served at soup kitchens in Milwaukee each month – and about half of those served are children. Our partnership with Hunger Task Force, through our Kohl’s Serving Up Supper for Kids Program, is dedicated to fighting hunger for kids in our community. We are very proud of the service that Hunger Task Force provides and know that this additional donation will help fill a critical need for families doing all they can to make ends meet.”

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of Kohl’s,” said Sherrie Tussler, Hunger Task Force executive director. “They have been amazing partners when creating our Kohl’s Serving Up Supper for Kids Program and, when they heard of our need, they didn’t hesitate in their decision to help fill our pantries. Thousands of families will now have the nutritious meals we strive to provide.”

In addition to supporting Hunger Task Force, Kohl’s and Kohl’s Cares have combined to give more than $39 million since 2000, to support charitable initiatives in the metro-Milwaukee area, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County, Discovery World, Junior Achievement and Penfield Children's Center.