Rick Lewandowski Has Been Feeding Hungry Seniors for Nearly 20 Years
50 Faces. 50 Stories. 50 Years of Fighting Hunger.
Hunger Task Force is proud to be Milwaukee’s only Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. In celebration of our 50th Anniversary, Hunger Task Force is highlighting “50 Faces of Ending Hunger,” honoring the anti-hunger heroes who champion Free & Local and support our mission to end hunger.
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In 2004, Rick Lewandowski walked through the doors of Hunger Task Force for the first time, eager to make a difference. His start as a humble delivery driver excited him, knowing he was giving back to his hometown by ensuring hungry seniors received Stockboxes – a box of supplementary food for low-income seniors – every month. Little did he know, nearly 20 years later, he’d still be working every day to improve the lives of Milwaukee’s vulnerable seniors.
“My favorite part of my career with Hunger Task Force has been, without hesitation, seeing firsthand how my work improves the lives of the kind, compassionate people who live in and around my former neighborhood and the surrounding areas,” said Lewandowski.
Having grown up in Milwaukee’s inner city, Rick takes pride in serving his former community. After Hunger Task Force was given a caseload of nearly 5,000 Stockboxes in 2002, Rick rose to the challenge to ensure they were distributed equitably and efficiently to seniors at 32 sites in Milwaukee. Since then, Rick’s caseload has doubled to nearly 10,000 Stockboxes at 159 sites in 32 counties across Wisconsin.
Rick’s career blossomed at Hunger Task Force as he took on more responsibility and grew into his current position – the organization’s first Senior Services Director. Today, he oversees 400+ Stockbox distribution volunteers, runs a doorstep-delivery service for homebound seniors called the Stockbox DoorDash program and manages Hunger Task Force’s mobile market – a grocery store on wheels that offers fresh produce at 50% off.
Rick is a true hunger hero who has dedicated his career to feeding Milwaukee’s most vulnerable seniors.
