Anna, Hayley, and Maddie
VFR: Anna, you and your family (including your daughters Hayley and Maddie) have done over 75 food rescues, which is absolutely incredible. Tell us about yourself and what drew you to volunteering with Vancouver Food Runners and what keeps you going with VFR’s program?
Anna: Hi! My name is Anna. I was born and raised in Vancouver and have lived my whole life in this beautiful city with my husband, two girls (Hayley,15 and Maddie,13), and our one-and-half year old puppy. I am a retiree after having worked for a telecommunications company for over two decades. I have always had an interest in giving back to my community by volunteering, but while working full time and raising a busy family, I only managed to carve out time a few occasions a year to volunteer.
In the early days of the pandemic, our family’s activities were canceled and online schooling was limited. With time on our hands, I sought out volunteer opportunities. I was particularly drawn to grassroots organizations that provide critical services in our community in response to COVID-19. I learned how the pandemic exacerbated levels of food insecurity due to loss of employment, which in turn resulted in a surge in demand at food banks.
That’s when I became interested in the unique food recovery program run by Vancouver Food Runners (VFR). I love that volunteering with VFR means I help minimize food waste as well as food insecurity, simultaneously. In addition, many of the VFR partners are in close proximity to our home. There is nothing more impactful than seeing the fruits of our contribution near where we live, work, and frequent. Knowing that our efforts have an immediate and tangible impact on our neighbours and the satisfaction we get after each rescue is what keeps us going.
VFR: What has surprised you about volunteering with Vancouver Food Runners? What have you learned from this process?
Anna: Where to start? I have learned so many things.
I learned the difference between an expiry date and a best before date. Did you know those dates are more about food quality than food safety?
I’m also surprised to learn that in the past five months alone, our family rescued 3,340 pounds of surplus food (which equates to 2,783 meals) and mitigated 1,814 lbs of CO2. VFR’s nifty app tracks our impact, down to the pound.
Other staggering numbers? While I have been fortunate and privileged to have never experienced food insecurity, I am aware it is a significant issue in our city; however, I did not appreciate the full extent of the problem. 58% of the food produced in Canada is wasted or lost, but 1 in 9 households in BC are food insecure.
VFR: Hayley and Maddie, this question is for you: please tell us about your favourite food rescue! And what is the most memorable moment you’ve had while volunteering with Vancouver Food Runners?
Maddie: My favourite food rescue has been picking up at Bonchaz Bakery and dropping off at an SRO downtown because we do this one the most, and we have a good system to load and unload the donation. I also enjoy picking up donations from Livlite, a company that delivers zero waste groceries, and transporting the food to LOAF (Local Open Access Fridge). This food rescue is different from all of the other food rescues we have done, as LOAF is a community fridge and pantry right in the neighbourhood where I live.
Hayley: My favourite food rescue was the one we did while filming the documentary, “The Interceptors.” We picked up a donation from Safeway and redirected food to Lookout Housing. This rescue was particularly memorable because the whole time we were dropping off the food we were being filmed! It was a bit awkward having to redo picking up a box to make it look “documentary worthy” but it was a really interesting and fun experience! I also remember the humongous selection of food Safeway donated that day. There were cakes, donuts, cookies, pies, cupcakes, parfaits, muffins, bagels, bread, buns, salads, and tomatoes. It all looked so delicious, too. Lookout Housing was really grateful for the donation.
VFR: Anna, I imagine volunteering with VFR as a family has sparked some interesting conversations between you and your kids. Please share with us about some of these special times.
Anna: There’s the obvious, which is the sheer quantity of food we recover that would otherwise be destined for the landfill. The volume is astonishing.
We also talk about the quality of some of the food we rescue, and how perfectly delicious and nutritious foods get ditched due to superficial blemishes, unusual colours, and weird shapes.
Many of the food rescues take us into the heart of the Downtown Eastside, which opens up conversations about complex social issues, such as individuals without homes, inadequate housing, poverty, mental health, addiction, and gentrification. By volunteering, our family connects with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, and we develop empathy, a sense of community, and see the world through the eyes of others.
VFR: Summer is right around the corner and parents are always looking for interesting activities to do with their kids. Hayley and Maddie, why do you think kids should give food rescue a try?
Maddie: I think kids should sign up with their parents to be Food Rescue Heroes this summer because there are always available food rescues that will fit in your schedule. It is an easy way to help people in need, and you will feel great when you see the smiles on their faces. A food rescue normally takes less than an hour. You can choose food rescues that are right in your neighborhood, so you don’t have to travel too far. You can help your parents by sorting the donations and carrying them to and from the car. I also help my mom complete all the steps in the VFR app on her phone while she is driving.
Hayley: I think kids should give food rescue a try because it’s really fulfilling and rewarding knowing that your actions help many people in such an important way as providing food to eat. When I finish my food rescues, I feel proud that I was able to make an impact in the community, and I think that is the most rewarding part of it and why I do it. In addition, it’s nice to travel around all the parts of the city and go to interesting places that you never knew existed. Exploring and learning about these food businesses that I otherwise would have never known about is exciting, especially when you get to see behind the scenes in the kitchens and warehouses. It’s also fun driving around the city and chatting with my family about the things we spot on our rescues. It’s definitely a good way to bond with your family and build stronger connections through spending time together.
VFR: Only four more weeks until school is finished! Hayley and Maddie, what are you looking forward to this summer?
Maddie: I am excited to play lots of volleyball, finish loads of incomplete art projects, play on my trampoline, and go on a cruise to Alaska with my family. I am also looking forward to doing even more food rescues. Our goal is to reach 100 by the end of summer!
Hayley: Wow, there are so many things I am looking forward to this summer, because it’s looking quite promising to be a “normal” summer (haha!). I hope to spend a lot of time with my friends, go on bike rides, eat out, have sunset picnics, spend time at the beach, and have sleepovers. In addition, I also want to spend time with my family. Normally, we go on a lot of bike rides in the summer, so perhaps instead of driving, we can do our food rescues by biking. It was a good idea in theory, but how would I carry 100 loaves while biking?!
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