GATHERING OF SOUTHEAST WI INC

DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE GATHERING OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN CONTINUED TO EXPAND BOTH ITS REACH AND ITS IMPACT, SERVING 93,000 MEALS TO NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ACROSS MULTIPLE MILWAUKEE COUNTY LOCATIONS. OPERATING FOUR CORE MEAL SITES AND ADDITIONAL PARTNER DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS, THE GATHERING PROVIDES CONSISTENT ACCESS TO HOT, NUTRITIOUS MEALS IN SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENTS.THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS WAS POWERED BY A LARGE AND COMMITTED VOLUNTEER NETWORK, WITH WELL OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTING THEIR TIME IN MEAL PREPARATION, SERVICE, FOOD RESCUE, AND HOSPITALITY.THE ORGANIZATION SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED FOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS, RESCUING AND REDISTRIBUTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF DONATED FOOD FROM GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS, FARMS, CATERERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSREDUCING FOOD WASTE WHILE IMPROVING THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF MEALS.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE GATHERING CONTINUED ITS COMMUNITY MEAL PARTNERSHIPS PREPARING AND DELIVERING MEALS TO THE BENEDICT CENTER, CATHEDRAL CENTER, FRANCISCAN PEACEMAKERS, RUNNING REBELS YOUTH, AND SOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER. FINALLY, THE GATHERING SERVES AS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY HUB WHERE GUESTS CAN CONNECT TO OUTSIDE SERVICES; OUTREACH WORKERS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS REGULARLY VISIT MEAL SITES TO OFFER HOUSING NAVIGATION, RECOVERY SUPPORT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AURORA'S MOBILE MEDICAL VAN, HARM REDUCTION RESOURCES, AND SAFETY RESOURCES.