West Allis’ City of Faith meal hub is suddenly scrambling for a new home after the church sold the building where it stores food for its weekly giveaways. The program, which organizers say has been running for about six years, offers meat, produce and pantry staples to elderly residents, veterans, people with disabilities and families on fixed incomes. Volunteers and parents who depend on the hub warn that losing the site would quickly open a major gap in local food access. Church leaders say they need roughly 3,000 square feet to keep pallets, boxes and refrigeration equipment in play, according to TMJ4.
As reported by TMJ4, Pastor Dr. Michael A. Cokes said, "This work is important to continue," and warned the hub will be forced to close if a new location is not found. The outlet reports that the building where food was stored and distributed has already been sold, leaving volunteers racing the clock to relocate. TMJ4 also noted the hub has operated out of the church for about six years, and organizers told the station they are issuing an urgent appeal to the community for help.
Where the hub operates and how it runs
According to City of Faith, the church runs a Community Meal Hub with varying hours and asks visitors to check its Facebook page for schedule updates. The church's events page shows recurring free food giveaways going back multiple years, a track record that local advocates say helped the program steadily grow. The West Allis–West Milwaukee School District community resource list also names City of Faith as a neighborhood pantry partner, underscoring the hub's role in the local food safety net.
How many households rely on it
TMJ4 reported the hub can feed up to 200 families in a single week, with some households picking up two or three boxes at a time to stretch groceries between paychecks. Pastor Cokes estimated to the station that the contents of one box, which can include chicken, ground beef, cereal, bread and fruit, would cost about $150 to $200 at retail prices. The station also reported that organizers are seeking roughly 3,000 square feet of space to handle pallets, boxes and refrigeration equipment. Volunteers worry that if they do not land a suitable location, nearby food pantries will be hit with a sudden wave of extra demand.
Where help might come from
The City of West Allis ran a community food drive in late 2025 that collected thousands of pounds of donations for local pantries, a reminder that municipal and neighborhood networks can move quickly when need spikes. As the city highlighted in its post, donors and partner agencies have helped sustain a patchwork of pantries and free food giveaways across the community. Church leaders say they are hoping those same networks, along with any individuals or groups who have spare warehouse or refrigerated space, will step up so the hub does not have to shut down.
Time is tight. Organizers say they need a location with power for refrigeration and room for pallets within days to weeks to avoid a pause in service. Those able to offer space, donated equipment or other support can find contact details and distribution schedules on the City of Faith website.
