Clarissa Dixon
VFR: Clarissa, tell us about yourself! What were you up to before you joined VFR?
Clarissa Dixon: Before I joined VFR, I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at UBC. My primary areas of study included social determinants of health and gender studies, as well as English literature.
During my undergrad I also completed internships through UBC, mostly in the space of instructional design and digital learning. After completing my undergraduate degree, I went on to work in the philanthropic area, and then ended up at VFR!
VFR: What drew you to working with Vancouver Food Runners?
CD: Through a UBC program, I had the opportunity to learn more about Vancouver’s nonprofit landscape and organizations involved in food justice.
During the program, I volunteered at Food Stash Foundation. Food Stash’s dual focus is to prevent food waste and provide dignified food access to folks in Vancouver. As a student volunteer, I supported their weekly rescued food market where surplus food is redistributed to community members. Food Stash Foundation works closely alongside Vancouver Food Runners in local food systems work.
Volunteering with Food Stash and participating in the UBC Program left me wanting to pursue work with a greater immediate impact on my community. These experiences inspired me to focus on food waste mitigation and redistribution.
VFR: Tell us about your role with VFR and some areas of work that you're excited to dive into more.
CD: As a program coordinator, I organize the daily food rescues and routes and ensure that volunteers receive the support they need during their food rescue. When a new volunteer joins the VFR team, I provide welcome information and offer support during their first rescue. If a route requires additional instructions, I make sure to share all relevant details.
Another aspect of my role is food donation matching. When a food donor contacts VFR about a donation, I match that food with a nonprofit partner that can utilize it in their programs or services.
In the fall, my role will shift somewhat, and I will focus more on developing and supporting partnerships and working directly with nonprofit partners to ensure we identify the food donations that are best suited for their programs and clients.
VFR: Let's get to know you better: Tell us about a personality trait that helps you succeed in your role with VFR.
CD: One of my personality traits that helps me as a program coordinator is my attention to detail. With so many food rescues ongoing everyday, the details matter!
Details are important in my communication with volunteers. I want to ensure that they feel well-prepared and supported during their routes by providing all the necessary information they might need.
This is also important in food donation matching. Each nonprofit partner has certain food preferences and needs based on factors such as their programming, storage space, and staffing. When food donations are made, these factors are carefully considered to ensure a successful match and that the food is a good fit for the recipient organization.
VFR: What are some of your favourite things to do in the Lower Mainland in the summer.
CD: Summer is my favorite season in the Lower Mainland. My dog isn’t a fan of the rain, so when summer arrives, we enjoy longer walks and relaxing at local parks. Vancouver's bike routes are particularly inviting this time of year, and I love setting off on spontaneous rides to explore new paths and different parts of the city.
Summer is also the perfect opportunity for day trips outside the city. I like to catch the ferry to Bowen Island or explore the cafes and scenery of Deep Cove in North Vancouver.
VFR: Let's talk about food! Please share some of your favourite places to grab a bite to eat.
CD: Some of my favourite places to head to for a bite and a visit with friends are local coffee shops and bakeries. The list could be endless but here are some that I enjoy!
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