I struggled writing this review, but I feel it's important. I had two run-ins with Robin Rush, and…read moreafter the first, I wrote a complaint but didn't send it, hoping things would improve. After the second, I realized this was a pattern, and after reading other reviews, I saw it wasn't just me.
To those who spoke up before: thank you. Your honesty helped me see my experience wasn't isolated. Because of your reviews and my own documentation, I was able to present the truth to the court and received another extension even after being told I had no options left.
I'll take responsibility for not securing my extension properly... that was on me. But the way Robin handled it was unnecessarily harsh. What could've been resolved with simple communication turned into a cycle of criticism and disrespect.
She accused me of being "lazy," "not working," and "needing to be told to keep busy," all of which are false. To clarify: once, she saw me on my phone after eight hours of work, texting my partner I'd be home soon. Another time, her son saw me talking to two volunteers on our scheduled break. Besides those two, no staff member ever implied I wasn't working. In fact, I was respected by the rest of the team and praised for my effort.
Even in disagreement, I remained polite and respectful. I apologized after our initial misunderstanding, which she ignored. She once raised her voice at me in front of staff completely uncalled for.
She also slammed a paper down and slid it across the counter toward me with an irritated, "What's this? This means nothing to me," before I could even explain. It wasn't a violent throw, but it was aggressive and unnecessary. I stayed calm. At that time, she even confused me with someone else, insisting I had "argued" with her over text when no such exchange existed. When I later read a reviewer's comment about Robin throwing a purse at them, I believed it instantly! I'd seen that same temperament myself.
At one point, when I opened up about feeling overwhelmed, hoping for understanding, she told me to stop with my "sob story" and sent a screenshot of a helpline. No empathy, no concern, just dismissal. No one working in recovery or service should ever say that to someone struggling. People come for help, not humiliation.
The last time we spoke, I mentioned her staff's early closures made me short an hour on my timesheet. Her response: "That's not my problem." Those words said everything.
I've since learned others had the same experience. One reviewer said Robin told him "everyone was complaining about him," the exact thing she told me. That pattern matters. When a person in authority tells struggling people they're the problem, even when they're trying, it's not just unkind, it's damaging. For those seeking recovery or structure, that kind of treatment can push them further from healing.
To be fair, what Robin does for the community, food distribution, recovery meetings, community service is good work. But compassion and communication are just as vital. She may run programs, but she lacks the empathy those in recovery truly need.
Ironically, this experience became a blessing in disguise. My new site, a church, welcomed me with warmth and patience. They even told me if I'm ever short on hours, they'll work with me. That's the spirit of service that changes lives.
Robin often speaks of being close to God, but my experience with her was the opposite of Christ-like compassion.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." -- Ephesians 4:32
To anyone volunteering, completing service, or attending meetings here do so with awareness. This organization's mission is admirable, but its leadership needs reflection. A person can feed bodies and still starve spirits. I sincerely hope Robin one day understands the power her words/actions have and chooses to use them to heal rather than harm.
