Madison, WI, July 11, 2025 – On Thursday, July 10, 2025, a group of offensive linemen, tight ends, coaches, and staff from the University of Wisconsin football team set their pads and whistles aside and picked up cleaning supplies and paint brushes and sorted donated product to help Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin provide more food to area families facing hunger. 33 student-athletes, coaches, and staff volunteered at the nonprofit as part of the Badgers Give Back initiative. Half of the volunteers spent their time cleaning and painting an annex warehouse that will provide additional space for future food sorting projects, while the other half of the group focused on sorting, inspecting, and organizing shelf-stable product donations.
“The incredible student-athletes and coaches that volunteered with us proved that when we work together, a few hours of time can make a long-lasting impact in our community,” said Michelle Orge, president and executive director of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. “As a result of their efforts, we’ll be able to bring more food in and get it sorted and onto the tables of families right here in southwestern Wisconsin faster.”
“We’re here to give back to all the fans and the state for what they do for us as a program and for our guys as student-athletes,” said Offensive Line Coach AJ Blazek. “The best communities that I’ve been involved in over the years through athletics are the ones where everybody’s out to help each other. It’s something that inspires you inside.”
Each year, Second Harvest relies on the generosity of individuals and groups, like the one from the University of Wisconsin, to volunteer their time in support of the community. Annually, volunteers do 20% of all the work done on behalf of Second Harvest. To find out more about volunteering at Second Harvest, visit SecondHarvestSW.org/Volunteer.
Pictures from the event can be downloaded at: www.SecondHarvestSW.org/badgers-give-back.
About Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Since 1986, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin has been working with local hunger-relief agencies in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties. Through food distribution, promotion of outside food assistance programs, partnerships with healthcare providers and insurers, and raising awareness of hunger, we are making our vision of everyone in our community having enough nutritious food to thrive a reality. We are the largest hunger relief organization in southwestern Wisconsin, providing tens of millions of meals each year to those who need them. Every day, we prove that lives can be changed with food! For more information, visit SecondHarvestSW.org.
