SAN ANTONIO — Eric Cooper has been in the business of getting people food for 25 years, and he's really good at it, but he doesn’t want all the credit. 

"It really isn't an individual, it's a community, and I do see the good.  I see these amazing individuals putting themselves at risk to come serve on the front lines to help a neighbor," said Cooper.

He is the president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, and the way he's able to connect with both clients and volunteers is special. It was re-connecting with his dad that helped him find this calling in the first place.

When Cooper was young his parents divorced. Early in his 20s, Cooper decided to track down his father, only to find him on the streets of Portland, Oregon.

"You know, I went looking for a lot. Then when I found my dad on the streets, homeless, struggling with mental health, and un-diagnosed- it helped me understand. It's about understanding. It's about getting at the level where you see and feel the situation," said Cooper.

That's what makes Cooper different is he understands what the problem is. He knows where the problem exists, and he has a unique ability to talk about it openly, honestly, and without hesitation with anyone. 

"When you do this work and you know the data, poverty and hunger, it's biased. That inequity that comes based on what zip code you were born into and your race is what I think we're trying to balance. We're trying to just heal," he said. 

He’s been on a lifelong journey that took him from a young adult needing answers, to a career service provider that offers them for people that need help. 

"I definitely know I'm where I'm supposed to be. Lots of opportunities have come throughout the years, but this is an opportunity that chose me more than I chose it," Cooper said.