Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rodney Lyles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Rodney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?
Love is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. I’ve spent years working with hungry children, seeing both the darkest and brightest sides of humanity, but nothing has shaped me more than experiencing unconditional love when I least deserved it.
This experience fundamentally changed how I view kindness and love. It’s what ultimately led me to start Feeding Kids by Faith. What I have learned through love is that sometimes the kindest thing we can do for someone is to believe in them, when they’ve stopped believing in themselves. Every child we feed through our program isn’t just receiving a meal – they’re receiving a message that someone cares, that someone believes they deserve to be cared for, regardless of their circumstances.
Love, when it’s unconditional and steadfast, isn’t just kindness – it’s a transformative force. It’s oxygen when you’re drowning, light when you’re lost in darkness. Whether I deserved it or not, being loved through my worst moments wasn’t just the kindest thing anyone has done for me – it’s the foundation of everything I am today and everything I strive to pass on to others.
The children we serve at Feeding Kids by Faith often ask me why I started this organization. I tell them about love – not the easy kind that shows up for celebrations, but the kind that stays when things get hard. Because that’s the kind of love that saved me, and that’s the kind of love I know will save others.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Life has a funny way of redirecting our paths toward our true calling. I’m Rodney Lyles, Executive Director of Feeding Kids by Faith Inc., and my journey to fighting youth hunger wasn’t exactly what I planned when I was younger. Back then, my dreams were filled with NFL aspirations and the roar of stadium crowds. But sometimes, life’s greatest purpose finds you when you least expect it.
After my NFL dreams didn’t materialize, I found myself working various jobs with kids, and that’s where my eyes were opened to a harsh reality that would change my life forever. I noticed that many of these children weren’t getting proper meals once they left school. In Dallas, where we are based, this problem isn’t small – it’s part of a larger crisis where Texas has become the most food-insecure state in the country. When I learned that nearly 1 in 4 Texas children experience hunger, I knew I had to do something.
That’s how Feeding Kids by Faith Inc. was born. Our organization goes into underserved communities across America to establish feeding sites where children aged 0-18 receive hot, balanced meals every single day. Yet, we are about more than just filling empty stomachs; we are about nourishing souls and building hope.
What sets us apart is our comprehensive approach. We do not just drop off food and leave. We create sustainable feeding sites that become community anchors, places where children know they can count on getting a nutritious meal and also experiencing positive enrichment.
I am most proud of how we have managed to create a ripple effect in the communities we serve. Our work from our Dallas base has shown that when you feed a child, you’re not just addressing hunger – you’re giving them a better chance at success in school, stronger physical health, and the energy to chase their dreams. Every smile we see, every parent who can breathe a little easier knowing their child won’t go hungry, every community that grows stronger through our presence – these are the real measures of our success.
To our supporters and those who might be learning about us for the first time: our mission is crystal clear. We’re here to eliminate youth hunger by serving children in underserved communities hot meals and balanced snacks alongside positive enrichment. We believe that no child should ever have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, and we won’t stop until we’ve reached every child who needs us.
What started as a response to a need I witnessed firsthand has grown into a calling that’s bigger than anything I could have imagined – even bigger than my NFL dreams. Because at the end of the day, there’s no touchdown that could compare to knowing you’ve helped ensure a child won’t go to bed hungry tonight.
If you’re reading this and feeling moved to join our cause, know that every hand that reaches out to help means another child we can serve. Together, we can make sure that no child’s potential is limited by an empty stomach. This is our mission at Feeding Kids by Faith Inc., and this is what gets me up every morning, ready to serve another day.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
There was a time when everything in my life seemed to be going according to plan. I was in Tyler, Texas, deeply involved with Feeding Kids by Faith Inc. and working on an exciting project to get the organization integrated into the Tyler Independent School District network. At the same time, I was coaching college football, balancing my passion for athletics with my dedication to helping kids in need. Life seemed to be on an upward trajectory—until one phone call changed everything.
I’ll never forget the moment my Ma called me to tell me she’d been admitted to the hospital. The weight in her voice, the fear in mine—it was a call I’d never anticipated. I dropped everything, boarded a plane, and rushed home. In the days that followed, my Ma’s health continued to deteriorate, and within a short time, she passed away and went home to Heaven.
Losing my Ma killed me, and in that moment, I felt completely lost. I questioned everything—my purpose, my direction, my strength. The future I had been building seemed distant and uncertain, and for a while, I nearly gave up on all of it. But God has a way of sending people into our lives just when we need them most.
That’s when Fred Henderson, the owner of HHC Home Improvement, came into the picture. Fred showed up at a time when I felt at my lowest, offering not just his expertise, but his genuine support. His presence and guidance have been a Blessing from the moment he arrived. Fred’s encouragement helped me find my footing again, and together, we’ve been able to continue the work that Feeding Kids by Faith Inc., began.
Today, we are in the process of building a new facility in St. Louis, Missouri—a place that will allow us to feed even more children in need. We are naming the building, ‘Mary’s House’, as a tribute to my Ma, whose love and care for others inspired so much of what we do. This facility will be a beacon of hope, just as she was for me. It will be a place where children will be nourished physically and spiritually, and where the mission of Feeding Kids by Faith will continue to grow and thrive.
As we look ahead, I’m filled with gratitude— for the people who have helped me along the way, and for the strength, God gave me in a time of profound loss. My Ma may no longer be here, but her legacy lives on in everything we do at Feeding Kids by Faith Inc., and in the children we are able to serve through Mary’s House.
I’m thankful for God’s guidance, the support of people like Fred, and the opportunity to carry my Ma’s legacy forward. Life may have forced me to pivot, but it also revealed the incredible power of Faith, Community, and Love. We’re moving forward, and with God’s help, we’ll continue to feed kids by faith—just as my Ma would have wanted.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As the Executive Director of Feeding Kids by Faith Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to supporting underprivileged children, I’ve faced many challenges. Yet, none have tested my resilience more than the loss of my brother in 2020. It was a devastating blow, not just to me, but especially to our Ma, whose heartache was palpable in every moment. That year, I was faced with a painful duality — trying to navigate my own grief while also being there for her, a woman who I’ve always considered the strongest person I know.
Our Ma has always been the rock, the one who stood tall through every storm, providing strength and comfort to those around her, especially me. To see her face a sorrow that I could feel in my own chest was beyond heartbreaking. I remember sitting beside her, watching as tears welled in her eyes, and feeling completely powerless. No words I could say seemed sufficient. I had never seen her so broken, and it shook me to my core.
But my role, in that moment, wasn’t to grieve openly, even though I too was mourning. It was to try and be a source of comfort for her, to hold space for her pain and let her know she wasn’t alone. I remember the inner struggle — trying to stay composed, to be strong for her while the sadness in my own heart was overwhelming. I wanted to cry with her, to let the weight of it all pour out, but I knew she needed me to be the steady hand that could help guide her through her darkest days.
What made this even more challenging was the fact that I was mourning too. I had lost my brother, someone who had been a constant in my life. But in my grief, I could see the depth of our Ma’s loss. She wasn’t just mourning the son she had loved, but the boy she had raised, the man she had hoped to see grow old. The weight of that loss is something I don’t think anyone can truly understand unless they’ve experienced it firsthand.
Despite the pain, I stayed by her side, comforting her as best as I could. It wasn’t easy. Some days, I felt like I was holding everything together by a thread. But through that shared pain, I saw something remarkable: our Ma’s strength. Even in her brokenness, she showed resilience that I could only admire. She was the one who reminded me that we had to keep going, that we had to find a way forward, for our family and for others who were hurting too.
Watching her continue to rise, even when her heart was shattered, gave me a new perspective on what true resilience is. It’s not just about pushing through tough times — it’s about holding on to hope, even when it seems impossible. It’s about showing up for others, even when you feel like you have nothing left to give. And it’s about finding strength in moments of weakness, knowing that your love and support can carry you through.
As I look back, I realize that in trying to be strong for our Ma, I discovered my own resilience. In supporting her through the most heartbreaking time of her life, I was reminded of why I do the work I do. It’s about lifting others up, even when you’re carrying your own burdens. And it’s about being there for those you love, even when it feels like your own strength is running low.
Our Ma is the strongest person I know, and her resilience has shaped the way I approach everything in life, including my work at Feeding Kids by Faith. We all face loss and hardship, but what matters most is how we respond — with compassion, strength, and the courage to keep going, even when it seems like the road ahead is too tough to travel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fkfmeals.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feeding_kids_by_faith_inc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fkfmeals/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fkfmeals
- Twitter: https://x.com/FkFmeals/
Image Credits
Rodney Lyles