Lisa Gilbert
Lisa Gilbert is a volunteer with so many facets that I know I will not be able to adequately do her justice. When I came to Food Link as the Director of Volunteer in 1995 I inherited many volunteers and she was one of them. In the many years I have known this amazing woman, she has served Food Link in many ways. (Almost more than I can list.) From fundraising, picking up food donations, working with her church to setting up volunteer groups with rotating schedules, speaking to church and civic groups, working with church youth groups doing food drives, to nearly single-handedly selling raffle tickets for a mini cooper to benefit Food Link. Her ability to motivate and inspire people has helped our organization in so many ways. Have I mentioned that she has 4 kids, including triplets? She is smart, beautiful inside and outside, strong, talented and lives life to the fullest. Dedicated to helping those in need, she is always ready to lend a hand; she is one of a kind. It has been said that there are "idea" people and people who can make an "idea happen", but most cannot accomplish both . . . Lisa can do it all and make it actually look easy. Here is her story in her own words:"A woman in my weekly Bible study announced a project that she had heard about: rescuing food which was about to be discarded, and delivering it to the hungry in our community. This volunteer opportunity appealed to a number of us, so we arranged a delivery team which would pick up food each Wednesday from Whole Foods grocery store, and deliver it to an Annapolis church. This was almost twenty years ago, and while I no longer actively make food deliveries, I have continued my service to Food Link.
What most appeals to me about working with Food Link is that it is hands-on. When I delivered the food, it was very meaningful when the neighbors who waited at the curb helped unload my car, and to see them taking home bags filled with fresh, wholesome food for their families. As I have continued to work with Food Link I have worked as an advocate in the community, helped plan fundraising galas, solicited donations, organized and run a car raffle which raised over $12,000, continued to organize delivery teams, and acted as a liaison between Food Link and First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis � just worked to spread the word about the valuable work Food Link does in our community.
My days, until this fall, were filled with working as an actress, fitness instructor and artist, along with raising four children-- including triplets�who are now attending Stanford University, Boston University, and one who is backpacking around South America before entering McGill University. My older son works in video editing and lives in Washington D.C. I have recently taken a position with Annapolis-based Global Experiences as an Internship Program Consultant, helping place students around the world in international work experiences. When I have free time, I enjoy figure skating, gardening, reading and traveling � I�ve been to 39 countries, but would be happy to see some more!"