Medill Profile

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Ray Bynum has lived on both sides of hunger.

As a student growing up in Washington, D.C., he was in a backpack food program and received extra meals from his school to take home on weekends.

Now, Bynum is the warehouse manager at the Arlington Food Assistance Center, the county’s largest food bank, where his days are spent trying to provide food to people in need, a task Bynum said he has dedicated his life to because he knows what it is like to be on the receiving end.

“I understand the need and not to have enough,” Bynum said. “I’m willing to give my all to help you. I understand that other side.”

Over the past several months, as the coronavirus pandemic caused food insecurity in the area to rise, Bynum played a key role in the food bank’s response to more clients and significant operational challenges, according to his co-workers. Through his work in the warehouse and commitment to the center’s clients and employees, Bynum helped it stay open for the community.

According to the Arlington Food Assistance Center, 5,054 families were served between March and July — a 33% increase from the pre-pandemic amount. It also saw a 45% increase in families being referred to the assistance center by social workers.

Bynum has a silver stud in each ear, faded tattoos along his right arm and a warm way of grinning when he talks. He has been the warehouse manager since 2015, when he was promoted after spending two years as a warehouse assistant. Before being hired, Bynum volunteered at the food bank with his godmother while working at a Giant Food supermarket.

While volunteering, Bynum said being able to help clients was what drew him to the food bank the most. He is married and has two daughters, 10 and 13, so when he is interacting with clients, he said he tries to consider what it would be like if the roles were reversed.

“I’ve just got that people person spirit, and I like to help out,” Bynum said. “With the clients, we treat them like more than clients. Any day it could be myself or my wife or anybody in my family.”

When the Arlington center did not close at the start of the pandemic, Bynum was put in charge of implementing warehouse safety measures like cleaning every 30 minutes and outdoor meal distribution. Vicky Bandalo, the director of operations who has worked with Bynum since 2015, said Bynum took on these new roles with his usual client-first approach.

“He doesn’t have a lot of ego involved,” Bandalo said. “He knows what AFAC is trying to do. He knows we’re trying to serve clients in the most dignified way. He’s the glue down there that keeps all that running together.”

Bynum oversees six workers in the warehouse and describes himself as a leader who has others’ backs. Tyree Speight, the lead warehouse assistant, said Bynum once covered for him when he messed up a food delivery order.

Speight had failed to check an incorrect delivery of eggs. When Bynum found out, he shielded Speight from any punishment from their boss.

“[Bynum] won’t let you die,” Speight said. “He will take the gun, the whole ammunition, the whole clip. He doesn’t want to see you fail.”

As the Arlington Food Assistance Center continues to serve clients amid the pandemic, the grind of Bynum’s daily efforts do not appear to have an end. His daughters recently started online school, so between helping them with homework and navigating the virtual environment, he said life is becoming increasingly hectic.

Bynum added that his work, though, continues to be worth the extra push if it means he can still help Arlington residents.

“When I see 150 people in line out there, I know that I have a mission and a job to do,” Bynum said. “I want those people to be fed. I want to get this food to them.”