Rhonda Adams, The River’s Executive Director, has been selected as a finalist for the Spirit of Service Award, which recognizes local veterans making a positive impact in our community.

The winning veteran will receive $5,000. If she wins, Rhonda will donate these funds to local organizations serving veterans in need.

Please help Rhonda WIN by voting for her! Voting is open February 26–March 8. You can vote one time per day per email address! The final winner will be announced on March 11.

HOW IS RHONDA MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY?

Rhonda Adams has made a positive impact on thousands of lives. It began in 1982 with service to her country. She served over two decades in the US Army, which included 3 years of active duty and 18 years in the US Army Reserves. During her tenure in the Army, she received numerous military awards and decorations, service medals, and badges. By the time she retired in December 2003, Rhonda had climbed the ranks to earn the rank of Master Sergeant specializing in Operations and Administration.

In 2013, Rhonda was 1 of 6 employees when she began working at a small 7-year-old nonprofit, The River Food Pantry, on Madison’s Northside. Over the past decade, Rhonda has grown with The River, which is now the busiest food pantry in Dane County serving over 2,500 people every week. Hired initially as Operations Manager, Rhonda’s leadership abilities enabled her to serve in other roles as Operations Director, Director of Advancement and ultimately Executive Director leading a staff of 26 employees. Rhonda exemplifies The River’s core values of respect, compassion, community, caring, and generosity and serves as a role model for her staff to follow.

Under Rhonda’s leadership, The River has completely transformed to offer 8 innovative programs to better meet our community’s needs. The River now provides food in more ways than ever before, including curbside groceries, to-go meals, delivery, online grocery orders, mobile meals, emergency food lockers, a Saturday pantry session, and community partnerships. This network of programs and supporters that Rhonda has helped build ensures that our neighbors can access free meals and groceries 24/7/365. Each day, Rhonda creates a nourishing environment for staff and volunteers to grow and support The River’s mission of food, resources, and faith to build a stronger community. She continuously shares her belief that food is a right, not a privilege. Her mantra continues to be, “We can do without many things—food is not one of them.”

As a veteran, Rhonda has a special place in her heart for supporting food-insecure veterans and their families. Many times, you can find her on a Tuesday or Thursday taking time to welcome the veterans when they pick up curbside groceries and meals. For food-insecure veterans living at two housing complexes, Valor on Washington and Rethke Terrace, the Dryhootch van provides transportation to The River.

The last Tuesday of each month, Rhonda takes off her Executive Director hat and puts on her US Army hat to connect more deeply with local veterans. Rhonda spearheaded efforts to resurrect a local veteran program, called Vets Connect, in January 2023. In partnership with St. Paul Lutheran Church on Madison’s Northside, Vets Connect provides a free dinner (with food provided by The River Food Pantry and prepared by church volunteers) once a month for vets and their families to enjoy. In addition to the dinner, veterans look forward to choosing from a variety of fresh produce and miscellaneous goodies that Rhonda brings. Each month, participants are eager to listen and learn from a variety of speakers that are secured by Rhonda. Overall, this program has helped to nourish veterans with healthy food and provide a much-needed sense of community.

Rhonda’s dedication to her community is further strengthened through her volunteer work with:

• Rotary Club of Madison: Newly Elected Board Member November 2023¬–Present. Co-Chair of Veterans Fellowship Group, Member of Veterans Assistance Grants Committee, and Ethics Symposium Facilitator. As a Rotary Member since May 2021, Rhonda is the only female veteran in the Rotary Club of Madison, whose motto is “Service Above Self”.
• 100+ Women Who Care: Board Member January 2020–Present. Rhonda focuses on membership, venues, and sponsorships. This nonprofit impacts the community through members’ collective charitable giving.
• Northside Business Association: Board Member January 2018–Present. Member of Breakfast with Santa Event Committee 2013–Present. The NBA improves and promotes the business community of Madison’s Northside through networking, volunteering and education.

From motivating teams through the pandemic to bagging groceries when volunteers are low, Rhonda leads by example and is willing to do whatever is necessary to pursue The River Food Pantry’s vision of a fully nourished community. She always brings a smiling face, a listening ear, an open mind, and the highest level of dedication to helping others. Rhonda deserves to receive the Spirit of Service Award for making our community a better place for all.**

HOW WOULD THIS MONEY HELP RHONDA?

Based on my professional relationship with Rhonda, I know that she would be honored to be able to donate these funds to local organizations that serve veterans in need, such as:

• The River Food Pantry: This award will help provide food for veterans, as well as children, seniors, families, and those experiencing homelessness throughout Dane County.
• Vets Connect: Funds will go towards purchasing food for the monthly meal, including additional produce.
• Dryhootch: Funds will help this local nonprofit serve veterans and their families with peer-to-peer programs.
• Objective Veterans’ Smile: Funds will help this organization provide dental care for veterans, many of whom suffer from poor oral hygiene as there is no dental care at the VA for veterans who are not 100% disabled.
• Fisher House: Funding will help build a “home away from home” in Madison for families of patients receiving medical care at the VA.

Although there are countless ways that Rhonda could use this money, she strongly believes in giving back to the community and believes in veterans helping veterans. This award money would provide her with yet another opportunity to do both: give back to the community that she so deeply cares about and support her fellow veterans. It would be very special for her to receive this cash prize on March 11—right before her 60th birthday!