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March 2, 2025 • 14 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
iHeartMedia RALEI presents CEOs. You should know where we shine
a spotlight on decision makers from all corners of the triangle,
showcasing the leaders and companies that drive our local economy.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Amy Barrows in Studio, Food Bank of Central and Eastern
North Carolina CEO, you have a big job. It's all
about stopping hunger and thirty four counties right here in
North Carolina, thirty four counties, okay, and that could be
during natural disasters, shelters, soup kitchens. You guys are with
several hundred partners seven hundred yeah, okay, And that's incredible.
People ask all the time like how do you get

(00:32):
so many partners and how how do you get to
where you are to help all the folks because there's
so many people in need in North Carolina all over
the world, of course.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
Absolutely, and here in our thirty four counties. It has
drastically increased. It more than the past twenty years. Last
year we had five hundred and sixty thousand people who
were worried about their next meal are putting food on
their tables each week. That increased and that number is
over one hundred thousand more than the year before so
we were seeing drastic and increases and we can't do

(01:01):
anything alone. I truly believe we are a community food bank.
The staff, from the partners, the community partners who are
those food pantries, those meal sites, to the thousands of
volunteers who come out and our donors each year, all
are part of this community. And none of us could
exist without the other. So it's truly about investing in relationships.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
And as far as the one hundred thousand more people
that is a huge number, is that because the cost
of living is so high and just our world in general.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yes, all of the above. Unfortunately, the rising cost housing shortage,
as well as declining federal supports and state supports post COVID,
all of that is having an impact to the level
of need in our community.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
And how long have you been in this position? And
how did you get to where you are? Like, you
don't just show up as they see, Oh, you work
your way up in many organizations. Well, I've been in
this position for four weeks now, Okay, so this news
I didn't realize that very new.

Speaker 3 (01:58):
But I have been in hungry relief professionally for over
twelve years and personally my entire life. I grew up
in South Carolina volunteering with a local pantry with my family,
and then as I graduated from college and moved to
Atlanta Chicago to hear I found different ways to get involved.
And I actually have been at the past five years
I've been working at the national level with Feeding America,

(02:19):
But the five years before that, I was at the
food Bank leading the fundraising and communications efforts, and I
left that role only to come back to this role.
When I left as the VP of Development, I said
I was coming back or I was leaving to gain
additional skills so that I could come back in this role.
I was not looking for a CEO role or a

(02:40):
food bank role. It was the role at this particular
food bank because this is my home. We've lived here
for sixteen years and this is our community. Oh I
love that.

Speaker 2 (02:48):
Okay, so this is a homecoming for you, of course, Amy.
What are the core values of the food Bank?

Speaker 3 (02:53):
I think our my core values have always been making
a difference in openness, and I think that that really
aligns with who we are as a food bank as well.
We are open to absolutely anyone, no matter where you're from,
the color of your skin. We are open to anyone
who is in need of food, and we do that
without asking any questions outside of a few federal programs

(03:16):
that we operate, and that making a difference is how
do we partner together and understand that we're better together
to truly end hunger. I think over the past forty years,
we've unfortunately had to grow a lot to meet the need,
and we're still not fully meeting the need. So how
do we continue to do what we've been doing by
making sure everyone has nutritious food on their table each

(03:37):
and every evening, and at the same time, how do
we address those systemic issues that have caused hunger in
the first place.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
What are you most proud of at your company? I
know you've been here for four weeks, but you've been
in this industry for a very long time. What are
you most proud of?

Speaker 3 (03:50):
Oh, that's hard to say. Everything feels like a cop
out answer to say I'm most proud of everything that
we do, but it's true. But I think just the community,
the partnerships, relationships from our staff. It's a real privilege
to work at the food bank and come to work
every day knowing that what you are doing is having
an impact on the community where you live and your
family lives. But seeing how that all comes together with

(04:14):
the staff and the community partners and all of those
who support us that make it possible, just really showcases
who we can be together when we put our differences aside.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Of course, every business is about continued growth. So what's
something you're very proud of that you have or plan
to implement at the Food Bank?

Speaker 3 (04:30):
I'm so excited We're about to embark on our next
three year strategic plan at the Food Bank, and I
think we have a real opportunity. It is a complex
time with the political environment, with the rising costs, the
housing shortage, we're seeing that need increase. It's worse than
it's been in twenty years. And with this strategic plan,
I think we have a real opportunity to look at

(04:51):
how we address the root causes of hunger and what
does that look like. Maybe it's different types of partnerships,
Maybe it's different types of programs that we pilot. Where
do we lead, where do we follow and to get
that information. What I'm really excited about is how do
we work directly with people facing hunger and those seven
hundred partner community partners across the thirty four counties and
have their voice and our strategy so that we are

(05:14):
learning exactly what we need from those who need it
the most, because nobody can tell us how to do
this better than the people who are living it each day.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
And you say a three year plan, So who comes
up with that three year plan?

Speaker 3 (05:27):
It is our board of directors leads our strategic vision
for the organization, and then the two hundred staff operationalize
that strategic vision, as well as the volunteers and the
donors and all who make it possible. But really, this one,
I think is going to be unique because we have
not previously engaged neighbors and community partners in the way

(05:47):
that I'm hoping that we can for this one and
really have the voice of the community and that strategy.

Speaker 2 (05:52):
And when you say volunteers, how does somebody get involved? So,
for instance, if my family, I wanted to show my
kids like how blessed they are and how they can
give back and help others, can families get involved to
help volunteer?

Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yes, we love having families. I bring my children to Volunteers.
It's one of the few organizations that you can bring
children above the age of five to volunteer, and you
may be sorting sweet potatoes, you may be packing boxes
of food for seniors. You never know what you're going
to be doing that day, but you know that everything
that you're doing that day is going to a person
in this community who is in need. And you can

(06:25):
go to food BANKSEEANC dot org. We have sites across
central and eastern North Carolina. You can click on the
site closest to you and look at the volunteer opportunities.
Sign up right there online.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
And how many volunteers did you say you have?

Speaker 3 (06:39):
We have thousands? I think we had. We have one
hundred and sixty one thousand volunteer shifts each year. Okay,
that's incredible.

Speaker 2 (06:48):
It takes it really takes a village, like it takes
everybody to come together.

Speaker 3 (06:51):
And the differences the number of volunteer hours we have
adds additional eighty full time staff. That's the equivalent to
shred of impact.

Speaker 2 (07:00):
Go North Carolinians. That's awesome.

Speaker 3 (07:02):
Okay, I love that.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
So what are some personal convictions or philosophies that have
guided you in life and in business.

Speaker 3 (07:09):
I think investing in relationships has always been my guiding
principle of who is around you and never being the
smart or thinking that I'm the smartest person in the room,
walking into a room and knowing that I can learn
and grow and if I'm uncomfortable, that's good because that
means I am learning and growing. And having those diverse
perspectives is really important. It's really easy, especially today, I think,

(07:32):
to get in an echo chamber of your own beliefs
and realizing that a bigger tent makes us stronger. And
how can we all come to the table with how
we agree and how we align and address the issue,
specifically the systemic issues that are driving the areas of
need in our community.

Speaker 2 (07:50):
What is something that inspires you that just stands out
You're like, it's always inspired me.

Speaker 3 (07:54):
That is a great question. Our neighbors facing hunger every day.
It is so hard to ask for help, and to
be able to go and ask for help and receive that,
I think is truly inspirational. And that's why it's our
goal at the Food Bank and through our seven hundred partners,
is to ensure that we're always serving with dignity and

(08:15):
making the experience as dignified as possible, to make it
just a little easier to ask for help.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
This is an emotional question, but have you seen people
that have had to ask for help that are now
turning around and giving back to the community.

Speaker 3 (08:29):
We witness that every day, and I understand I'm emotional
almost every day at work because it's really beautiful to
see the community and how we can come together. But yes,
every single day we have people who have been in
need of food and are coming there and to give back,
to give back personally, to give back with their organization,
their company, or with their family.

Speaker 2 (08:51):
And I'm sure this is a part of the reason
why it motivates you to be in this role. And
like you said, you've been giving back since you were
a child with your family. What is the big drive
for you to be in the position that.

Speaker 3 (09:01):
You're in to be able to impact positive change for
this community. I've lived here sixteen years now with my
two children and my husband, and it is our home.
And to be able to see our community grow and
thrive and everybody have the opportunities that others have is
just really important to me. Addressing the disparities people of

(09:24):
color have food and security at rates significantly higher our
rural counties across North Carolina, there's significantly higher food and
security rates. There's lack of access and to be able
to be at the table with elected officials and community
partners and neighbors to say how do we change this?

(09:44):
Is just really important to me.

Speaker 2 (09:46):
As a female in your role. What advice do you
have to other females that aspire to be a president
or CEO of their company, because the data shows that
it's a much lower number when you see females in
your position.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
Gain all the experience and ga other people around you.
I recognize as a white woman, I've even had different
experiences than women of color, and I think, especially when
people get to the level of CEO, it's how do
you give back to others? How do you bring other
women alongside you? And don't be afraid to ask, Hey,
can I connect with you? If there's a job or

(10:19):
a role you're interested in, be brave, reach out, ask
for coffee, and most folks will say yes and give
their time. And really think about what drives you, what
fills your cup. Because you spend a lot of days
at the office, a lot of your hours alongside coworkers,
and it has to be something you're passionate about I
always tell folks when I'm interviewing, is I can teach

(10:40):
you everything other than passion, And if you don't have
that passion, that drive, then it's not the right role
for you. And that could be anything. It could be
financial banking, it could be food banking. But really finding
what fuels you and drives you each day well.

Speaker 2 (10:53):
Because that's like when the days are hard or long,
if you have that passion, it doesn't feel as unbearable
to get through the day, or you know, you get
things absolutely right. For someone that maybe feels stuck in
their current role or their position, what advice do you
have to help change that mindset so they can continue
to grow.

Speaker 3 (11:12):
It's so much easier to say how to change a
mindset than to actually do it. And I know that
from experience as well. But I think thinking about what
can I get from this moment, this experience. Maybe it's
maybe you're just learning what you don't want to do
for the future, and that's really valuable because that puts
you one step closer to learning what you do want
to do. So really thinking about what I can take

(11:34):
away from from this experience I'm having, but really focusing
on and what does that look like for the future
for me? And maybe it's volunteering to learn or shat
job shadowing someone, but really trying to find an end
to that place and being really fearless and reaching out
and asking for help.

Speaker 2 (11:53):
And then as far as balance, of course it's a
busy job. Then you also have a family at home.
How do you try to turn things off if you
can to balance in your life?

Speaker 3 (12:02):
Oh well, I would love to have greater balance. I
think that's probably something everyone would say, but I think
it is just having a flexible work environment. I truly
believe that the staff and the people who are doing
this work at the food Bank are some of the
greatest humans you've ever met, and we can't do it
without them. So thinking about how you have an environment

(12:24):
in a culture where everyone is able to bring them
full selves to work, and I feel like I have
that and I try to champion that. And so this
morning I was at the orthodontis with my daughter and
I'll go to work. But making sure that everyone knows
that you can make those decisions and choose your family
when you need to choose your family, and choose work

(12:46):
when you need to choose work, but it's going to
look different for every person for each day. But really
thinking about what does that look like for you individually,
not what should that look like for people.

Speaker 2 (13:00):
That you do for fun in your free time.

Speaker 3 (13:02):
In my free time, well, when it warms up a bit,
I love paddle boarding. I got into that during the
pandemic when I couldn't stand being indoors any longer. And
it's been something where you know, you don't have your phone,
you just have nature. I also love hiking, so really
getting outdoors, breathing fresh air and.

Speaker 2 (13:22):
Some quiet time. It sounds like a long time. Yes, yeah, okay,
So how can people get involved? Which I know you
said earlier, how can they get involved? And how can
they get a hold of you if somebody was, you know,
desperate for questions and just really wanted to know how
to grow within their own business.

Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yes, please go to our website Food Bank CENC dot org.
My email address is on our website as well, Amy Barrows.
It's a Barrows at Food Bank CE and C. Welcome
to reach out anytime and check out the different ways
you can get involved through volunteering, through donating, and we'd
love to hear from you and love to hear your
feedback about the work we're doing too.

Speaker 1 (13:56):
CEOs You Should Know is a production of iHeartMedia, Raleigh.
Thanks for listen listening
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