During the 2021-22 fiscal year, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle served over 870,000 of our neighbors across our diverse array of programs and distributed more than 9 million pounds of food to those in need. Currently, our staff numbers just over 50 individuals who work primarily out of our Raleigh and Durham warehouses, gardens, and farm. Over the next few months, we want to introduce you to the folks who have made it their mission to carry out the mission of the Food Shuttle—who come to work each day to feed, teach, grow, and cultivate an end to hunger in our community. First up, our amazing team of Drivers.
The Food Shuttle has a staff of 8 Drivers, 7 of whom work out of the Raleigh warehouse. Felix Viera is the Warehouse Associate and Driver for the Child Food Hub in Durham. Felix has been with the Food Shuttle for a little over a year. He drives routes all over the Food Shuttle’s service area: Durham, Raleigh, Siler City, Rocky Mount, delivering BackPack Buddies and food for School Pantries. While Felix is enthusiastic about the variety of people he gets to meet in the course of his work, he really values the familiarity that’s developed with those he’s come to know over time. He says he’s never had that experience in a job before, and it means a lot to him. Originally from Puerto Rico, Felix and his wife, Yannisse, have been married for the last 23 years.
Felix Viera
Dennis Wooten
Dennis Wooten has been driving for the Food Shuttle for the last 17 years. “Throughout my life, this is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. The people I work with, the people I’ve encountered, and the work we do. I get blessings from all of it,” he says. Dennis drives the US Foods route and makes deliveries to the Men’s and Women’s Healing Transitions facilities. He values the experience of the people he meets through his work, and the stories they’ve shared with him. “It’s opened my eyes to a lot of things.” When asked if he has a particular story to share, he laughs and says that there are too many to single out just one. Dennis, who has 8 children and is currently engaged, is a kind, funny man with a generous heart. He embodies the spirit of the Food Shuttle.
Matthew Kershaw is proud to help in the community, making connections with people in the fight against hunger. He’s been doing so as part of the Food Shuttle for the last 7 years. He drives a variety of routes, but his favorite is the delivery to the Women’s facility at Healing Transitions because “they’re always joking around,” he says with a smile. Matthew heard about the Food Shuttle when he was volunteering at the Shepherd’s Table and came on board as a Driver for BackPack Buddies. Matthew is originally from Plano, TX but was raised in Raleigh. The motivation to serve runs deep for Matthew. Every year, he joins his aunt on a mission trip to El Salvador where he assists with medical clinics, water system hookups, and other efforts for the community. This year was Matthew’s 10th year to make the 10-day trip.
Matthew Kershaw
Erick Martinez
Erick Martinez has been a Driver for the Food Shuttle for the last 5 years. He works out of the Raleigh warehouse, and drives the US Foods routes, to Apex, and to downtown Raleigh, as well as makes deliveries to Mobile Markets during the week and on the weekends. Erick says that he likes being a part of an organization that’s doing so much to help people of all different cultures and ethnicities. His favorite part of his job is that he gets to see the full scope of the work being done by the Food Shuttle—from the food recovery through the work of the volunteers to distribute it to those in need in the community. One of his favorite stories is that of being approached by a couple who were apparently down on their luck. Erick was eating his lunch and he was concerned because he had just emptied his truck and had nothing to offer the couple. The pair asked if he worked for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, and he said “yes.” They said that they just wanted to say “Thank you” for all the good work that was being done. That was all, but he’s always remembered the moment. Erick is from El Salvador, by way of Connecticut, but he’s been in North Carolina for the last 8 years or so. He has 2 sons, and he says that he’s a pretty good cook, having started helping out in his cousin’s Italian restaurant when he was just 13.
Tye Lee has been driving for the Food Shuttle for 4 years. He says that before he applied for the job, he didn’t know anything about the Food Shuttle, but in these 4 years, his commitment to our mission has grown strong. “I like it. We have to feed the community.” He primarily drives the downtown and North Raleigh routes and has come to know that community well. Originally from North Hampton County, Tye is married and has 4 children. When asked to tell one thing about himself that might surprise others, he claims to be quite the grill master at home!
Tye Lee
Tayron Duenas
Tayron Duenas has been with the Food Shuttle for the last 2 ½ years. He came to the organization as a temporary worker during the pandemic, but found a permanent home where he ‘likes coming to work every day.” Tayron drives the Farmers’ Market route, that includes stops at retailers like BJ’s, Target, and Walmart, and enjoys the interaction with folks with whom he’s developed friendships over time. Originally from Queens, NY, Tayron is married, with two children. He says it surprises people sometimes to find out that he’s a pretty funny guy because he’s generally fairly quiet and looks so serious. But he’s glad to be driving a truck again (he drove a truck in NY for 15 years) and working to help people.
Younes Alsoqe has spent the last 7 months as a Warehouse Associate and Driver for the Food Shuttle. Originally from Syria, Younes came to the Food Shuttle as a temporary employee through the assistance of Lutheran Services Carolinas. His strong work ethic and easy manner so impressed the team that he was made a permanent staff member, despite a language barrier (this interview was conducted through an interpreter. Thanks, Mohamed!) Today, Younes works in the Raleigh warehouse and drives prepared meal delivery routes each week. He loves the mission of the Food Shuttle and enjoys getting to drive again—he used to be a truck driver back in Syria. Younes and his wife, Etab Alkateeb, have 3 children.
Younes Alsoqe
Melvin Wright
Melvin Wright joined the Food Shuttle team about a month ago. He’s been training with Dennis and is learning the ropes and the routes. He says that he loves to help and that working at the Food Shuttle is “what I was meant for.” Melvin is originally from Raleigh, and he and his long-time partner have 3 children. One experience that has stood out for him has been that the women at Healing Transitions are definitely “not afraid of work” when deliveries are made to their facility. While Melvin is new to the job, his easy-going, funny manner is fitting in nicely with the team.
Out on the road, or in the warehouse, moving 9 million+ pounds of recovered food each year, this well-coordinated, hard-working crew adds vivid meaning to the term “driven” while supporting the mission of the Food Shuttle each and every day in our community.