People of Spoonfuls: Gabriela Ramos, Human Resources Manager
Food recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes a community of food donors, community-based organizations, funders, and committed food recovery staff to help make the most of food while it’s still good to eat and get it to those who could use it. In “People of Spoonfuls,” we introduce you to the many people who help make our food recovery work possible.
Today, meet our Human Resources Manager, Gabriela Ramos, one of Spoonfuls’ longest-tenured staff members.
What does a typical day as Spoonfuls’ Human Resources (HR) Manager look like?
I’m in charge of the HR operations, including day-to-day payroll, timesheet keeping, answering employee questions, and more. I’m also heavily involved in recruiting, conducting most of our phone screenings, so if you’ve interviewed for a position at Spoonfuls in the last few years, you’ve probably talked to me!
What brought you to Spoonfuls?
The mission of delivering food with purpose, to bring food to people in need, is easy to fall in love with. Early on, Spoonfuls showed me that it was a collaborative work environment, and I appreciated that. We come together and support one another in our daily work.
Who on Team Spoonfuls inspires you?
The Development team, which supports our fundraising efforts, inspires me. They’re great at telling a story and connecting people to why our work is important, which helps keep the philanthropic contributions that allow Spoonfuls to thrive strong. Big kudos to them!
What has been your biggest “aha” moment working in food recovery?
All of our new hires do a “ride-along,” where they get to see food recovery firsthand, ride on the truck, and help pick up and deliver food alongside our Food Recovery Coordinators. During my ride-along, seeing all the good food that would’ve been discarded – not moldy, dented, canned food, but truly high-quality, fresh food – was my biggest “aha” moment. To see thousands of pounds of food in a single day on a single truck that would otherwise have gone to waste go to our community partners put the value of food recovery into perspective.
What is a habit that you’ve changed since working in food recovery?
Looking at produce, I would always try to pick out the most beautiful product on the shelf. I wouldn’t take into consideration the items that were a bit less “perfect.” Now that I have a better understanding of the food system and food recovery, I don’t mind going for things like an apple with a bruise, since I know it can be just as delicious as the most visually appealing of the bunch.
The same goes for date labeling: Before working at Spoonfuls, I thought that date labels were truly “expiration dates,” and that food went bad when it hit the day on the package. Working at Spoonfuls has helped to mythbust that idea, since I now know that those labels are manufacturers’ best guesses about peak quality rather than markers of food safety.
You’re one of Spoonfuls’ longest-tenured employees! What kind of growth have you witnessed at Spoonfuls over the years?
Back in 2013, I started as an Accounting Coordinator on a team of ten. Now, I’m the HR Manager to a team of 40, and we have many different food recovery routes throughout Massachusetts. I’ve seen the company expand as a whole and grow our impact, but I’ve also gotten to see different employees take advantage of professional development opportunities and grow individually, including myself!
What’s your favorite meal?
My favorite meal is my mom’s tamales. She is from Guatemala, so she makes Guatemalan tamales, made with either chicken or pork. Making them is a labor of love, but they are absolutely worth the effort because they are so delicious.
What would you tell someone considering joining Team Spoonfuls?
I think you should join Team Spoonfuls for a variety of reasons. The organization takes the time to cater to employees. There’s always help for staff. There’s always an open door to ask your questions or voice your opinions. Plus, it’s an exciting time for Spoonfuls as an organization. We’re expanding, and you can be part of our initiatives to feed more families across the state.
