Rodney Green wears many hats in his work with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. As a current member of the Food Shuttle’s Board of Directors, Rodney is one of the organization’s most enthusiastic advocates, sharing, “What we do is absolutely amazing for the community!” Along with his Board duties, he also chairs the Development Committee. In addition to giving of his time as a volunteer, Rodney is also a sustaining monthly donor, recognizing the incredible impact this has on the work of the Food Shuttle.
All of Rodney’s profound commitment to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle comes alongside his professional dedication to his job as Interim Chief Financial Officer at Duke Raleigh Hospital, where he has spent the better part of the last 10 years. His position at Duke Raleigh is what brought him to the Food Shuttle. At first, he became aware of the organization through a fellow employee who was working with BackPack Buddies. He was so impressed by the mission, that he became a donor. Later Rodney was on an interview panel for a new hospital director whose resume included a reference to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. He wound up talking to the candidate in the parking lot, their conversation led to the Food Shuttle, and she suggested he get involved, which he did. He and his wife and children became volunteers, and he ultimately joined the Board of Directors.
But why? Why does Rodney feel compelled to engage so fully with an organization like the Food Shuttle? “I grew up in poverty in Durham. I grew up as a hungry kid,” he recalls. “Knowing what the Food Shuttle does for kids reminds me of my youth, and I just had to give. That’s the first thing I did: give money. From personal experience, I know the impact of hunger. And the Food Shuttle doesn’t just provide food. It provides healthy options. Feed, teach, grow. There’s no way I couldn’t support something like this.”
Rodney and his mother and brother were actually homeless during his senior year of high school, but he graduated and went on to complete his education at NC State University, where he met his wife of 15 years. They have two children—a 13-year-old son, and an 11-year-old daughter. His family now forms what Rodney refers to as the center of his universe.
When asked what advice he gives to young professionals who are considering engaging in community outreach, Rodney says that it is a “requirement to give back your time.” “All of us have been given gifts. There’s lots of opportunity. But there’s something intrinsic about giving your time. You can’t put a dollar amount on it. The last time I volunteered, I went over to the Child Food Hub, and I spent an entire day just making boxes. If you’re a young person, you need to understand that it’s not always the glamorous stuff that matters. Every single task helps people, and that makes a different world.”
Thanks to Rodney Green and his commitment to the people served by and through Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, our world is very different, indeed.