Waukesha Police Officer Tim Probst admits he didn't think the suburbs had a significant level of homelessness, but when he began working with the police department, he learned he was wrong.

Probst has been working while he has been off duty the last few years raising funds and donations to benefit the Food Pantry of Waukesha County. He started Freezin' for Hunger by camping outside the Waukesha Family YMCA but the program has now expanded to the Waukesha JanBoree and begins at 4 p.m. Friday at Lowell Park.

"I saw a need for raising the awareness of the hungry and the homeless people in Waukesha," Probst said. "I guess I was kind of naive to the whole thing."

Probst volunteers with the food pantry once a month and said it is surprising by how much of a need there is in the community.

The food pantry is able to buy food at a significantly lower cost than retail price through the cash donations, Probst said.

"They are at an all-time high right now," Probst said. "If (donors at Freezin' for Hunger) could make any type of sacrifice, that would be great."

Waukesha Patch editor Sarah Millard will be at Freezin' for Hunger helping with the donations for the food pantry. Additionally, aldermen Chris Hernandez and Paul Ybarra will be out from 4 p.m. to midnight Friday at Lowell Park for the event.