Raquel & Raul Mancenido
This week’s spotlight features Raquel & Raul Mancenido, superstar volunteers who have completed over 120 food rescues since joining the VFR team in April 2021. Together, they have rescued over 16,000 pounds of food, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Learn more about how volunteering has increased their engagement with the community and provided them with a sense of purpose.
VFR: Raquel, you and your partner, Raul, have done over 120 food rescues since you started volunteering with VFR in April 2021. This is a remarkable commitment to supporting the community and the environment. What initially interested you in volunteering with VFR? And what keeps you volunteering with us?
RM: Wow! I can’t believe we’ve already done over 120 food rescues. How time flies! I was the one who originally came across Vancouver Food Runners. I researched VFR’s program and felt the organization had a strong mission and purpose. I did a few food rescues myself, and then I started to bring Nicholas, a gentleman with a developmental disability who lives with us, on food rescues as well.
Nicholas really enjoys the experience of doing food rescues. The food rescues get us outside together doing an activity; Nicholas supports with loading and unloading the food donations; and he also understands that he is supporting the community through his volunteering. For Nicholas, completing food rescues really provides a sense of accomplishment in his everyday life.
As time has gone by, we keep getting more and more involved with VFR. It started with just me, and then Nicholas and I started doing food rescues together, and now my husband, Raul, is doing many of the food rescues. I’m still working full-time, and Raul is retired now, so he has three weekly food rescues – Urban Fare, No Frills, and Starbucks – and they’re all in our neighbourhood, which is very convenient.
It's also quite funny because Raul is not much of a tech person, so if he’s not doing one of his weekly food rescues, I sometimes text him the details of a one-time food rescue, so he can do it. We’re a team, with me providing some additional logistics support!
Raul also enjoys doing the food rescues. He’s in the community, talking to people, and sometimes he even meets other people who are from the Philippines, and they can have a nice chat.
VFR: What are some of your favourite things to do in Vancouver as well as some of your favourite places to grab a bite to eat?
RM: We got a dog a few months ago – very unexpectedly! My friend acquired a rescue dog from Mexico, but this particular dog wasn’t able to settle with her other dog. The situation with the two dogs was just too much for her. After she mentioned this to me, I said, “Well, can I have the dog?” And she said, “Yes!”
So, on October 16th, just a few months ago, this new addition, Logan, arrived in our family. October 16th also happens to be Raul’s birthday, so it felt like it was meant to be. When Logan arrived, it was love at first sight.
Walking Logan – our “baby” – all around our neighbourhood is now one of our favourite things to do in Vancouver. Our daily dog walks and visiting local coffee shops, like JJ Bean Coffee and 49th Parallel Coffee, are now a part of our routine. Logan even comes on food rescues with us, if it’s a smaller food donation that we can put in the back of the car.
In terms of dining out, Raul and I enjoy trying different restaurants, especially Italian ones. The meals at Savio Volpe are particularly delicious.
VFR: What has surprised you the most about volunteering with VFR? What have you learned through this process?
RM: The answer to this question is easy: the amount of food that is wasted. It’s incredible to see how much surplus food there is, and, in turn, how it can be used to support others. It’s eye-opening, and it hurts me to see how much food waste occurs in the food industry. We are taught to “clean our plates” as children or to save leftovers for the next day. Food businesses must do the same, and, thankfully, many are starting to donate their surplus food.
VFR: 2023 has just started! What are some things you're looking forward to this year?
RM: I am excited to travel again. With COVID, Raul and I (and everyone!) were stuck at home. I have family in the Philippines that I want to visit this year. I will be so happy to be reunited with them.
Raul and I will also continue to do our food rescues this year. Volunteering is important to both of us. We’re getting older, and volunteering gives us something to do together as a team and to feel proud of. It gives us a sense of purpose.
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