Pedals to the Pavement | Riding for the Mission
When Costello Robinson sets a goal, he doesn’t go halfway—he goes all in.
This September, the longtime Food Bank transportation manager and father of three is putting pedals to pavement, pushing himself to cycle 200 miles, not just for his health, but for a mission that hits close to home: hunger relief.
With 19 years of service under his belt, Costello is already close to and familiar with the mission of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. But this time, he’s showing up in a different way. He’s combining his personal health goals with the passion for his work—supporting his family, his community and his own health.
“I’m in my forties, and I’ve got two young daughters—seven years old and eleven years old,” he says. “I wanted to get in better shape. I always want to be able to get out and play with them, keep up with them. To just be there.”
Costello’s desire to remain active and present with his young children started him on a fitness journey to improve his health this summer. He first started cycling casually, eventually pushing himself to new limits by timing his rides and tracking his miles. In July, he rode 100 miles. In August, he pushed it to 150. Now, during Hunger Action Month, he’s challenging himself to cycle 200 miles. Once again, pushing his limits by adding a fundraising goal of $500 to support the Food Bank.
“I started seeing all these bike riding fundraisers in my algorithm,” he said, “and I thought, ‘Man, I work at a food bank; I can do this for my job.’”
For Costello, it’s a double win: improving his health while also supporting a mission he is passionate about. “This is a mission that I love. Nothing is more honorable than feeding the hungry.”
But Costello hopes his efforts go beyond just fundraising.
“To me, the Food Bank feels like home,” he says. “If anything, I want to give hope. And to inspire other men, especially black men in their later years, to get in better shape. So, if what I’m doing can help to feed the hungry and inspire others to take control of their health, I’m all in.”
Louisiana ranks fifth in the nation for food insecurity. To Costello, this statistic is more than just a number. It’s a reality he’s faced with every day through the work in his department and the impact on our community made by every delivery. That’s why he is choosing to do more—and he’s inviting others to join him.
The symbolism isn’t lost on him. Hunger isn’t stationary. It’s an ongoing, persistent problem that requires effort, consistency and endurance—the same traits pushing Costello on the pavement and that have kept him showing up at the Food Bank for nearly two decades.
So, this month, while others raise awareness through more traditional ways, Costello will be taking a different route, doing his part mile by mile, dollar by dollar.
As of this publication, Costello has cycled 32 miles and raised a little over $200 for hunger relief. By turning his fitness journey into a mission-driven fundraiser, Costello is putting purpose behind every mile he rides during this Hunger Action Month.
Join us this September. Every donation made will be matched up to $75,000—thanks to the generosity of the Price Leblanc Family.
To view Costello’s fundraising efforts, visit:
The Role of CF Industries and Albertsons in the Fight Against Hunger
