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Number: CA JMABC A.1971.001-20.17-20
Name: Tanja Demajo
Interviewer: April Thompson
Date: June 28th, 2017
Place: Vancouver, BC
Project: The Jewish Historical Society Oral History Project

Summary:
00:00 Thompson and Demajo discussing mics.
00:37 Thompson asks Demajo to introduce themselves. Demajo was born in former Yugoslavia, specifically Bosnia and Hercegovina and moved to Canada in 2010. At the time of the interview Demajo was working at the Jewish Family Services Agency as the Director of Family and Adult Resources. Both speakers discuss their favourite aspects of living in Vancouver as well as the things they miss from their countries of origin.
2:58 Demajo describes the mission and programs of the part of the Jewish Family Services Agency that she works for. The Agency aims to support members of the community who are food insecure by supplying them with nutritional food.
5:15 Demajo goes in to more detail about some of the other programs under the food bank’s purview such as the food cupboard and food vouchers. These options are to support those in need who can not always make it to the actual food bank. They also mention that when a client first asks for assistance, they assess their needs and create a plan that will best suit the client’s needs.
7:14 The number of people who use the food bank and its related services at the time of the interview was approximately three-hundred and thirty. Demajo laments that the numbers are increasing rather than decreasing and knows thinks that the food bank will find ways to be more sustainable for a longer period of time.
8:53 Demajo describes the poverty line and its part in causing the increased needs of the clients. Demajo mentions they are aware of possibly creating a long-term dependency but recognize they can not simply cease providing services. This prompted the establishment of the Food Security Task Force, a joint project with the Jewish Federation. The task force was tasked with finding new ways to address the needs of the community in a way that is also sustainable.
11:34 Thompson asks if the organization is open to change and adaptation. Demajo says yes and describes some ways they think that the organization can grow and change to better suit the community’s needs. They mention the circumstances have changed since the food bank was first started so the response should also change.
14:00 Demajo describes the demographics of their clients that most frequently use their services.
14:19 Thompson asks Demajo to talk about any ways the organization is responding to questions of food waste and sustainability. Demajo replies with examples of program logistics such as delivery, clients being able to select some of their own food and lack of storage space.
17:05 The program is mostly volunteer run and has one part-time employee, the coordinator.
17:40 Thompson asks Demajo about the role food plays in the Jewish community development. Demajo responds by saying that many community members play a role in the program.
18:47 An unknown speaker interrupts the interview to deliver a message to Demajo.
18:58 Demajo continues with their previous response by saying that the program is meant to be about having people feel as though they are having their needs met and the volunteers get to feel as though they are helping to build a stronger and more sustainable community.
20:41 Demajo mentions the connection that food and eating food can bring to people. They are looking forward to seeing the development of the community through this program.
21:07 Thompson asks Demajo if there are any other programs they wanted to mention and make others aware of. Demajo describes some of the ways in which the food bank is trying to improve itself by contacting a nutritionist, and having regular access to a social worker. They also mention that the food bank is consistently working to find new ideas and ways to improve itself.
22:48 Thompson asks Demajo for final comments. Demajo concludes by saying that food is a basic human right and access to food should not be a class issue. They believe food can be a tool to create a more powerful community.
23:49 End of interview.