Brenda Rhodes
Brenda Rhodes has organized a monthly volunteer shift at the Atlanta Community Food Bank since 2004. On the second Friday of each month, Brenda recruits volunteers to sort food at the Food Bank’s Product Rescue Center. Prior to taking over as volunteer leader for these monthly shifts, Brenda participated as a Friday night volunteer for many years.
Brenda’s efforts go far beyond the food she physically sorts. She recruits and trains hundreds of volunteers a year to sort thousands of pounds of food – on average 10,000 – 12,000 lbs per night; enough food to provide over 6,700 meals to deserving families and individuals! This food finds its way into the hands of over 800 hunger relief agencies in 38 counties throughout North Georgia and the Southeast.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank has been the benefactor of Brenda’s service in many other ways. She has served as the volunteer coordinator for annual IBM days of service at the Food Bank, coordinating IBM volunteers the annual Hunger Walk, and supervising volunteers at black tie fundraisers. And when her schedule allows, Brenda also donates time in the Food Bank’s offices to volunteer administratively.
In addition to helping provide food for those who need, Brenda also gives her time to other agencies who minister to animals, to causes supporting education, to celebrating the accomplishments of physically challenged individuals, and to many others.
Brenda embodies the spirit of volunteerism all over Atlanta….not only in service herself, but tirelessly teaching, informing and leading others in service. A diverse group of people ultimately benefit from her service: the elderly, disabled, mentally ill, young families, single parent families, battered women, newly unemployed, working poor and children.
Brenda continues to volunteer in Marietta and throughout the city, and is interested in starting her own non-profit soon.