Today, we’d like to introduce you to Gina Wilkins. Gina was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Donna Welch.
Gina Wilkins is the Founder and CEO of Kind Mouse Productions Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2012 assisting local families in transition and their chronically hungry children. In 2012, Gina was a self-employed certified architectural draftsman. With the decline in the economy she saw many of her friends and peers fall into financial despair. These hardworking career people were too prideful to ask for help and eventually lost their homes and businesses. Gina, wanting to help her proud friends, saw a need to assist these displaced families and to also feed the hungry children of her neighborhood.
Since that time, Gina is proud to say the Kind Mouse has fed over 830,000 food insecure little tummies since it’s birth and has served over 250 families experiencing job loss.
A brainchild of Gina’s is The Kind Mouse Outreach Programs – Mice In Training and Mice Interns. “KM Kids Feeding Kids” where children from ages 5 through 18 learn leadership, how to operate a nonprofit and run two boards. These students are the next generation of the Kind Mouse.
We’ve heard great things about your organization. For our readers who might not be as familiar, can you please tell them about the organization?
The Kind Mouse feeds the hungry children in the area. However, it is much more than that – education with a safe place for all is key to understanding and solving hunger issues. Through mentoring children ages 5-18 with no food insecurities issues the meaning of giving back, compassion, hope, kindness and respect as well as learning how to run the nonprofit and a board, Gina feels the foundation she has developed that these outstanding children will go one level higher in solving hunger issues. Along with the youth outreach program, Kind Mouse also is very involved in offering volunteer opportunities to many of the senior citizens in the area. These dedicated individuals have gained a purpose and deep friendships by volunteering with Kind Mouse.
My Daughter’s Keeper of Tampa Bay, Inc has been a great friend to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about My Daughter’s Keeper of Tampa Bay, Inc and your experience with them.
Donna Welch and I met when Wengay Newton suggested we assist the children she was serving. Wengay at the time served on our Board of Directors, and understood our mission to feed the hungriest of the hungry.
When learning about Donna’s mission and passion we started to provide her with nonperishable foods. Little did we know our weekly food sharing would now be 10 years old!
Many years ago, we delivered to the children living in the hotels. Thanks to Donna’s passion, she has taken over those children and continues to feed children in dire circumstances.
We know that when we pass food to Donna, we are truly making a difference in the lives of the children we both serve. Her joy in helping others is infectious and we are so, so happy to know that these children have a guardian angel looking over them named Ms. Donna..
Website: www.TheKindMouse.org
Instagram: The Kind Mouse #KindMouse
Linkedin: The Kind Mouse Productions, Inc.
Twitter: The Kind Mouse @TheKindMouse
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theNEWkindmouse/
Youtube: thekindmouse4025
