Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/51669
work to inspire Someone You Should Know: Gina Wilson Putting hunger on the map By Elishah Oesch Gina Wilson starts and ends her days looking at maps of Wisconsin. In fact, every wall in her stark white office is covered with them. "This is where I look morning, noon and night," she says. But these maps don't denote boundaries or county lines—they pinpoint where people in our state are hungry and in need of assistance. As director of agency services and programs at Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Wilson is tasked with oversee- ing the distribution of about 1 million pounds of food every month to various food pantries throughout the area. In addition, she spearheads the Food Share Program—Wisconsin's form of food stamps—to people in need. But to Wilson, Second Harvest is more than a place to work; it's where she puts her mission into action, working to ensure that some day every pin will be removed from her maps, and that everyone knows "food comes first." Wilson has been at Second Harvest for over four years, but her life has been about feeding those in need since she was 4. It was her dad, who owned a "mom and pop" grocery store during her youth, who showed her the way. Wilson personally saw him giving out food to those who couldn't pay for it. "When people didn't have enough money for food, when they were laid off or had no work, they would come to him for help and he never said no," she explains. The lesson he instilled in his young daughter was simple: "When someone asks you for food, it's your job to make sure they get it," she says. Today, Wilson lives out her father's advice. "It's kind of my heart connection with him," she says. For Wilson, that mission isn't just about providing a meal or grocery items during hard times, it's about putting power and dig- nity back into the hands of those in need. To that end, she's helped implement standards that allow families to choose their food items themselves, rather than having the pantries choose for them. The idea is to give families the power to select "what they would like to eat and what they know they will eat." It not only reinforces a sense of self-worth, she says, but also keeps a lot of food from going to waste. As the need for food continues to grow (Second Harvest has seen the need increase 83 percent in the last four years), Wilson intends to continue her father's tradition through her work with Second Harvest for many years to come. Her hope? That these efforts will inspire others to join in the fight to end hunger for everyone. As she says, "there's no more basic need than food that unites each and every one of us." ••• Elishah Oesch is co-anchor of WKOW27's Wake Up Wisconsin. See Wilson's story on Wake Up Wisconsin Dec. 7 and 27 News at 10 on Dec. 8. Nonprofit Profile: Second Harvest Foodbank What it is: A nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger in southwestern Wisconsin that serves nearly 141,000 people each year through food and financial donations as well as volunteer support. Its history: Wrapping up its 25th year serving the commu- nity through partnerships and programs, Second Harvest now serves a record number of people struggling with hunger. How it operates: The food bank collects and distributes food to 315 area partner agencies—such as food pantries—who then provide meals and services at the community level. How to get involved: Donate funds, food or time. Just one hour of volunteering saves enough money to provide 63 meals to families facing hunger. For more information: Visit secondharvestmadison.org. 36 BRAVA Magazine December 2011 Photo by Shanna Wolf