In most instances, you wouldn't even think of casting a second glance.  They are families you sit next to in church; moms and dads you engage in casual conversation when dropping the kids off at school. 

What you don't realize when chatting about the weather or debating the Packers' chances of winning the Super Bowl, is that tonight when you sit down to dinner in your home, these same families you interact with on a daily basis will be utilizing one of Milwaukee's nearly 100 food pantries, meal programs or homeless shelters.

"With the recession we are in, and unemployment climbing due to jobs being consolidated and eliminated, people who never thought they'd ever need to ask for help are now in that position," says the Hunger Task Force's Scott Marshall.

"These are your family, friends, neighbors and former co-workers.  These families need to decide whether they are going pay the mortgage, the electric bill, gas for their car or put food on their table.

"One of the shocking revelations that we've discovered over the past year and half is that many of our new clients used to be our donors, and some have actually volunteered at the pantries they now rely on for food."

In other words, they are not just "someone else."

Local food pantries and the Hunger Task Force are always in need of donations, but this time of year, they seem to fall off the charitable radar, says Marshall.

"Our donations decrease during the summer as folks get ready for vacations, festivals and the chance to get outside."  

And Marshall says this may be the time when help is most needed.  

"The irony is that summer is when we see a marked increase in need, because kids are out of school and the healthy meals provided and reimbursed by federal legislation ends."

Helping those in our community is simple.  By donating just $28 to the Hunger Task Force, you are allowing a family of four to have dinner for a week.  It takes just $84 to put food on the supper table for one month.

So giving the Hunger Task Force or your local food pantry a bag of food is helpful, but donating money gets the most bang for the buck.

"We have developed partnerships with food distributors that allow us to buy food in bulk at a much lower price than the public can, enabling us to stretch each dollar donated. In fact, we can buy $2 worth of food for every dollar donated," says Marshall.

The Hunger Task Force is free for all participants, and everything stays in greater Milwaukee.

"We do not answer to a large corporate entity," says Marshall.  "We know the issues in Milwaukee and can move quickly to provide assistance without having to go up and down a bureaucratic ladder.   Most of our donations and funding is provided locally and that support stays right here in our community."

Marshall says he understands that not everyone is in a position to write a check, but that doesn't mean you can't give something. 

"The next best thing is whatever someone who supports our mission can afford to donate.  Money, food, their time, their voice and passion to raise awareness of the hunger issue in Milwaukee and that it really can be ended."

The Hunger Task Force loading dock is open to accept food donations Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.  

Monetary donations can be made online at hungertaskforce.org or dropped off in person at the Hunger Task Force offices at 201 S. Hawley Court.