Joe Wilson of Bloomington, Illinois, was recognized as the “Outstanding Senior Volunteer” for the Illinois North Central Region at the 14th Annual Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards April 25, 2024, in Chicago, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Joe’s nomination and official biography in the awards booklet reads:
“Bloomington’s Joe Wilson is retired after a life-time as a construction worker with Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 362, which serves McLean County. With his good nature and easy smile, Joe is a ready community volunteer with the local union’s community service. Regularly the union retirees assist the Tinervin Foundation food bank in Normal by unpacking the food items, setting them up for loading and building the boxes for the food distribution. Joe not annually aids in this but goes the extra mile and rides along to help unload the food boxes at multiple sites within the community and adjoining counties. Since 1982 the LIUNA local and the McLean County Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to sponsor a Children’s Christmas Party for low-income families. This past year almost 1800 children were served. Joe is a consistent and regular volunteer with this effort. Across the same time period, LIUNA Local 362 annually volunteers and operates the track and field events at Illinois Special Olympics State Games at Illinois State University. Joe is again a consistent and regular volunteer. This past fall the union painted and updated cabins at Easter Seals Timber Pointe Camp and Joe assisted. In 2023 Joe was named WJBC-AM “Laborer of the Year” and led the Bloomington Labor Day Parade and was named “Retiree of the Year” by his union. Joe is very quiet, humble, and volunteers with a ready smile — his only question is, ‘How can I help?’ He and his wife Jan are a great testament to the volunteerism and open hearts that make a better community.”
Amy Rueff, Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, awardee Joe Wilson and his wife, Jan Wilson