Veronica Summerhill

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals, food service workers, truck drivers and countless more involved in the supply chain for essential goods and services are working harder than ever and facing considerable personal risk for the good of society. In this series, we asked alumni on the frontlines of this pandemic to share their experience with us.

Veronica Summerhill is the Acting National Director for FoodRescue.ca program at Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization. FoodRescue.ca is Second Harvest’s online food donation platform that connects food businesses that have surplus food with local nonprofits, like school snack programs, food banks, youth athletic programs and a host of others.

How has your work changed since COVID-19?

We were planning on a five-year national expansion of FoodRescue.ca. When COVID-19 hit, we realized that food charities were seeing an influx of clients, so we changed our plans and brought the program national within a few weeks. Needless to say, it’s been busy, but we have the amazing opportunity to provide much-needed food to nonprofits across the country.

Can you tell us about something or someone that's inspired you during this experience?

Doing the work that we do, I see people and situations that are incredibly inspiring every single day. One story that particularly stands out is from a restaurant in Toronto. As we know, restaurants are among the hardest hit by the pandemic. Having worked in the industry myself, I can imagine the concerns they are facing when they work in an industry with paper thin margins to begin with. Despite this challenge, the group of owners and managers came together and paid their staff to make meals, which were then distributed to people in need in Toronto. 

This is one of many stories. There are so many people and organizations across Canada who have really banded together to make a difference. If only we could always have the attitude that together we can solve any problem, what a perfect world it would be! 

What do you want people to know about your experience during this time?

We talk a lot about being strong and knowing things could be much worse. While that’s true, I think it’s important to recognize that things are really strange right now and even if you’re healthy and safe, it’s scary and uncomfortable in the world. Yesterday I had a bad day where I felt the weight of the world and wasn’t able to keep that positive outlook. It’s good to just acknowledge those feelings and work with them, not against them. I’m glad I was able to curl up with some tea and a good movie. Sometimes that’s all you can do!

What do you think the lasting impact of COVID-19 will be on your work, and you personally?

I’ve really been trying to take things day by day. I try not to think too far ahead or in the past. Right now, especially, it’s tough to even imagine what a month from now or a year from now looks like. I hope that in the future this is all a distant memory, people are safe and we have a bit of time to look back, reflect and even grieve. 

For Second Harvest, I think and hope that we will be stronger than ever, offering more food to nonprofits across Canada and helping ensure no good food goes to waste and that no one gets left behind.