Mark Lisowski Connects Independent Food Banks and Pantries Across Wisconsin to Expand the Free & Local Model

Hunger Task Force is 100% community-supported and is Milwaukee’s only Free & Local food bank. Mark Lisowkski has served as the food bank’s Hunger Relief Federation Organizer for nearly 3.5 years and works to bring together free and local partners from across the state to combat hunger in their communities.

Mark is a public servant at heart. Before joining the team at Hunger Task Force, he worked as a community organizer to help build safe and empowered neighborhoods in Milwaukee. At Hunger Task Force, he uses that developed skillset to lead the Hunger Relief Federation – a statewide association of independent food banks and food pantries – and connect anti-hunger advocates throughout the state to engage and expand the free, local and independent model.

Mark has had the pleasure of organizing two Hunger Relief Federation Summit events that brought together representatives from anti-hunger organizations from more than half of the counties in Wisconsin. During the 1.5-day events, attendees engaged in valuable networking, resource sharing and educational sessions that were designed to foster growth and strengthen the collective mission to end hunger in Wisconsin.

“The two Hunger Relief Federation Summits were excellent avenues for engagement and support of the network,” said Mark. “To be able to educate and mobilize members into action was powerful. I’m really looking forward to our continued advocacy efforts.”

The Hunger Relief Federation is comprised of 177 members that represent 70 of the 72 counties throughout the state. Many of the food pantries Mark supports in the Federation are run by dedicated community volunteers.

“To be able to observe in real-time how people are problem solving at the ground level is remarkable,” adds Mark. “Our main mission is to feed people in need, and everybody finds a way to accomplish that no matter what the challenges are and whether they’re working with federal programming or as paid staff.”

Through Mark’s role, he connects small, independent pantries with grant opportunities to receive infrastructure to build their capacity. One of his favorite aspects of his role is hitting the road and visiting Federation members.

“I’ve probably visited upwards of 150 pantries in the three years that I’ve been doing this work. Being able to spread the messaging of what we do and who we are and advance the Federation as such is really important to me and the work that I get to do. I’ve learned a lot about different spaces across the state and how folks are supporting their community members in different ways,” shares Mark.

Mark never thought his passion for politics would guide his day-to-day work but is appreciative of playing a role in state and federal advocacy efforts pertaining to food access. He finds this aspect of his career “incredibly insightful” and enjoys helping Federation members understand how they can shape public policy and advocate for programs they believe in.. Through Hunger Task Force’s Voices Against Hunger citizen advocacy group, he shares how members can advocate together to promote social policies to end future hunger.

Mark takes pride in his role as an organizer to help feed people in need today and promote social policies to achieve a hunger free community tomorrow. 

Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.