Owen Artuso
VFR: Owen, tell us about yourself and how you got involved with volunteering with Vancouver Food Runners?
Owen Artuso: I am 16 years old and in grade 11, and I am heavily invested in sports and extracurriculars. I was looking to complete some service hours in a way that was meaningful to me and impactful for my community and the environment. Fortunately, my mother was already supporting Vancouver Food Runners through her bakery (Moore’s Bakery) and told me all about it.
This volunteer opportunity seemed perfect for me because I was aware of the food insecurity issue within Vancouver and knew this was one of the best ways to alleviate it. The responsibilities of being a Food Rescue Hero also fit into my busy schedule, as I could complete each delivery on the way to a practice while also practicing my driving.
VFR: What makes volunteering with Vancouver Food Runners meaningful to you? What has been your favourite volunteer “moment” so far?
OA: The reason VFR is so meaningful to me is because of the importance of nutrition for one’s quality of life. Not only does malnourishment cause increased vulnerability to illness, but it is also a great contributor to anxiety and depression. Knowing that I can make a positive difference for those facing these struggles certainly brings meaning for me. This sense of meaning was amplified when I met an individual at a community fridge who needed a meal for the night, and I could happily provide it for them. The gratitude and joy they expressed when opening the fully stocked fridge was enough to make that food rescue my favourite volunteer moment.
VFR: Your family's business, Moore's Bakery in Kerrisdale, has been donating their surplus baked goods through VFR since March 2020 – over 27,000 pounds of surplus food delivered to nonprofit partners and 73,500 pounds of CO2eq mitigated! This is massive community and environmental impact. Why is donating to VFR's program important to your family?
OA: As a business and a family, we hold VFR’s program close to us, as it allows us to translate all of the work done in the bakery into good for the community. Not only do the purchased goods fill the stomachs of our customers, but our food surplus has just as great of a contribution within the community. Thanks to VFR’s well-organized program, we can continue providing our family’s products for food insecure individuals to enjoy.
VFR: What have you learned through the process of volunteering with VFR and what has surprised you the most?
OA: I have learned the true power of consistency when it comes to a service like Vancouver Food Runners. Each single donation on its own can only help so many people, but the dedication and drive to keep the food out of the landfills and into the community each week is what makes a real difference.
This is exactly why I continue to complete food rescues even after I fulfilling my required service hours. It is because I know the importance of consistency and how much it can benefit our city.
What surprised me was how much the community relies on the efforts of everyone who donates food — it’s quite striking. Each week, I am able to load a surplus of baked goods into a community fridge, and each week when I return, the fridge is completely bare.
VFR: At VFR, we're about to launch a Kids & Youth Summer Volunteer Program. Why would you encourage young people (and their families!) to get involved!
OA: The feeling of fulfilment that is obtained from contributing to eliminating hunger and reducing food waste is unmatched. Volunteering as a Food Rescue Hero is a great way to give back to the community and to put smiles on the faces that need it most. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to help good people feel good again—and I couldn’t imagine missing out on it. I highly encourage young people to get involved with VFR!
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