Jinny Kwon
VFR: Tell us about yourself and how you got involved with Vancouver Food Runners.
Jinny Kwon: I work as a full-time engineer in the IT industry and work all day behind my computer. I have been looking for a meaningful opportunity to help out in the community in the evenings after work with more human interaction than a PC or machine can give me. While searching the web for something to fit my schedule and similar to Meals-on-Wheels, VFR came up one day. VFR’s compelling vision caught my attention: zero waste, zero hunger.
VFR: What makes volunteering with Vancouver Food Runners special and why is it important to you?
JK: With COVID-19, wildfires, and floods happening all over the world, it's becoming more and more important that each of us, as residents of this planet, help out and take part in making where we are a better place. VFR offers the opportunity to achieve these collective goals for all of us: physically by reducing waste, and spiritually and emotionally by helping our neighbours in need. This is what makes it special.
VFR: Which food run is your favourite?
JK: All my weekly food runs are great. I love getting to know the people that I pick up and deliver food donations to. I love exchanging warm, pleasant smiles with the people I meet along the way regularly. I also like the 8 am weekend morning rescues from Safeway when they become available on the app. Not only do these morning rescues help me maintain an early morning routine on the weekend, but they also make me feel recharged because of the good spirit I receive from people inside and outside of the Powell Street Getaway Resource Centre. They stop whatever they’re doing to help unload boxes from my car, which I appreciate, and it boosts my energy level too!
VFR: What has been your best volunteer "moment" so far?
JK: One of my "aunties" joins me for the weekend morning rescue whenever she can. I’m grateful for special moments when I can complete a rescue with people close to me, especially when they find it as rewarding as I do. VFR: Would you recommend volunteering with Vancouver Food Runners to others and why?
VFR: Would you recommend volunteering with Vancouver Food Runners to others and why?
JK: VFR provides a variety of rescues, which is great for people needing flexibility; VFR’s easy-to-use app that makes volunteering simple; and it doesn't take a long time to complete a rescue. To me, the reward is much greater than the time and effort spent completing the rescues. Vancouver Food Runners makes it easy to help people facing food insecurity while redistributing the food into the community and saving our planet. So, why not!
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