By Elli Wyllie,
Marketing Associate,
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25:35-36.
When we hear these words, we often think of the great saints—Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Damien of Molokai; individuals who embraced this call in radical ways, serving the poorest of the poor in India, selling every possession they had, caring for lepers. Their stories are inspiring, yet they can sometimes lead us to wonder: Well, what can I do? Most of us are not in a position to drop everything. We have families, jobs, and responsibilities that are noble and good. The stories of great saints can sometimes feel overwhelming. But the reality is that most often, answering God’s call doesn’t require drastic measures. It simply requires a “yes,” and a willingness to try.
At this year’s 38th annual Celebration of Hope Saturday, March 15, we are honored to recognize someone in our own community who shows us what it means to say “yes” to God in our daily lives. From a young age, Mike Hosek learned leadership and service.
As a kid, he was involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, then continued serving through volunteer work and GodTeens in high school. In college, he joined the Sertoma Club, and today, he serves as president of the chapter of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Patrick Parish in Lincoln, and is an active advocate for the Knights of Columbus.
Mike is a board member for Better Life Insurance based out of Wisconsin. In 2021, the company launched “Walk to End Hunger,” a national event to raise awareness about food insecurity by collecting food and raising funds to purchase food. He took the lead in Lincoln, securing Pius X High School’s track, rallying support from his home parish, and organizing volunteers from the Knights of Columbus. About a dozen Better Life agencies participated nationwide, but Mike’s effort was by far the most successful.
In just one month, they raised 11,000 combined pounds and dollars. Mike’s group was the only group across the U.S. who said yes to a second year. Not only did he keep it going, but he expanded it. He brought in St. John, Sacred Heart, and North American Martyrs parishes to join the walk. That year, the total grew to 20,100 pounds and dollars.
By the third year, the event had gained so much momentum that Bishop James Conley asked Mike to make it citywide. Every Catholic parish in Lincoln participated, increasing the total to 30,500 pounds and dollars raised in two months.
In 2024, the Walk to End Hunger became a year-round event. It brought in 47,500 pounds and dollars to the CSS Lincoln Food Market.
Mike chose to support CSS because he has seen the direct impact of its work. Through St. Vincent de Paul, he visits families in need and witnesses firsthand the reality of food insecurity in our own neighborhoods.
Mike’s story answers the question: What can I do? It reminds us that when we live out the Gospel, we don’t have to change the whole world all at once, we just have to keep saying yes to what is in front of us.
