From pallets to plates: How Lydia Tavares helps ensure no one in our community goes hungry

At The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, our staff work tirelessly behind the scenes every day—securing and processing donations, organizing fundraising events and campaigns, sorting and storing food, and delivering orders to the 61 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network. They also support our volunteers and collaborate with Network partners, all with one clear goal: to ensure no one in our community goes hungry. 

One of our dedicated team members is Lydia Tavares, whose journey with The Food Bank began long before she became part of the staff. In 2008, she volunteered with her employer, helping sort food for our community. 

“I thought it was really fun, and it inspired me to make a difference for those in need, so I asked how I could become a volunteer,” she recalls. “I filled out the application and started volunteering weekly in different roles, mainly in customer service.” 

Lydia Tavares in The Food Bank’s warehouse.

When changes to her work schedule made volunteering weekly difficult, Lydia stayed involved by volunteering monthly and participating in our Health and Safety committee meetings. Her continued commitment and leadership didn’t go unnoticed. In 2015, she was asked if she’d be interested in covering a maternity leave. 

“That’s where my staff journey began,” she says. 

Lydia joined the team as an operations coordinator. After completing that contract, she returned in 2017 as an operations team lead. Today, she serves as our manager of warehouse operations. 

“I manage five warehouse associates plus one warehouse lead hand,” she explains. “I coordinate all the activities in the warehouse—whether it’s staff work or volunteer work—to make sure that the Network partners receive their fresh, dry, and frozen orders.” 

Lydia Tavares at her desk.

One of her biggest challenges is managing the limited space in our warehouse. In 2000, when The Food Bank first moved to our current location at 50 Alpine Court in Kitchener, we distributed 2.8 million pounds of food to 40 food programs, helping 26,000 people in need. Now, 25 years later, that same space is busier than ever. From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, The Food Bank distributed 9.6 million pounds of fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food—over three times more than when we first moved in—to 120+ food assistance programs in the Network, supporting nearly 73,000 people. 

“Space is definitely the most challenging thing to navigate, as this increases the inefficiencies of any task,” Lydia notes. “We’re having to move pallets multiple times just to get access to a particular location.” 

And when the holidays arrive, those space constraints are felt even more. 

“The Friday before Thanksgiving is when things really start to ramp up,” Lydia explains. “From then until mid-January is the busiest time in the warehouse with extra deliveries, more orders, and more donations coming through the doors.” 

Lydia Tavares operating a forklift.

With that increased activity comes something else Lydia notices every year: the generosity of our community. 

“Our community is amazing and during the holiday season, we see a huge increase in donations,” Lydia says. “I’m continuously amazed by the generosity of our community.” 

Lydia is equally grateful for the volunteers who give their time to help ensure no one in our community goes hungry. 

“They’re truly amazing,” she says. “Their dedication and passion are admirable. They don’t have to be here—they choose to be.” 

For Lydia, the most rewarding part of her job is seeing the impact firsthand. 

“Knowing we truly made a difference, whether its big or small, makes me want to continue doing more. It motivates me.” 

Like Lydia, you can help ensure food assistance is available for those who need it. Visit our Get Involved page to learn more about supporting The Food Bank and our neighbours in need.