Staff Spotlight | 2026 Marketing Assistants

This summer, Food Banks Mississauga welcomed four amazing team members through the Canada Summer Jobs program. They each contributed in their own unique way to support Food Banks Mississauga’s mission. From collecting stories and engaging with food bank visitors, to analyzing data and creating digital content, they stepped fully into the world of community support and food insecurity. Two of our summer placements, Michelle Benavides and Yambakam Nyangani, joined the Marketing & Communications team as Marketing Assistants. The following is a blog that they have written about their time with Food Banks Mississauga:

Top 5 things Michelle and Yambakam can’t live without | Food Banks Mississauga Edition:

Michelle and Yambakam:
Phone: Like everyone, we use our phones every single day, but when you work in marketing, it’s all you think about. Whether it was shooting content or editing a video on our phones, they were always in our hands, ready to take on the day.
Laptops: Our laptops were also key, it’s what we used to transcribe the stories that were collected throughout the week. We both became best friends with Google Drive from how much we used it.
TikTok: Our favourite app has become a staple when it comes to filming. We were able to use the trending sounds directly from TikTok to shoot, edit and easily upload all in one app.
Sony Camera: The camera played a part each week in tagging along to our mini road trips to various food banks across Mississauga. When given permission by the food bank visitor, we would take photos of them with the food they received during their visit.
Headphones: We love a good pair of headphones. They were there for us when we needed to lock in and get some work done. They both have noise cancellation so we were able to be really focused on whatever task we were doing, like editing or transcribing stories.

What did a ‘typical day’ look like for you this summer, and what made it ‘not-so-typical’ at times?

Michelle: I would say our most “typical day” was arriving at the office and figuring out which content ideas we wanted to shoot that day. Yambakam and I would go around the warehouse and sometimes even outside to record the ideas. Oftentimes we would ask if anyone wanted to be in our videos, and a lot of people would be okay with it which was a huge plus. Once filming was wrapped up, it was time to go collect stories from our clients at different food bank locations. This involved having meaningful conversations about how the food bank has helped their family, to more vulnerable conversations about their greatest struggles. Depending on the location, we would have 3-5 conversations. Usually, we would have time to go back to the office and upload all the stories and documents we got that day. What made it “not so typical” was the one time I had to put on our old mascot’s (Donny) costume to film a video for our socials.

Yambakam: During the summer placement period, I had the opportunity to capture stories through photography and video while also connecting with clients at the different food bank agencies in the Food Banks Mississauga network. A typical day could look very different depending on what we were working on. When I wasn’t at my desk, I was usually walking around the warehouse with a camera or phone, capturing individuals in action. Michelle and I would walk around looking for opportunities to capture content of staff and volunteers, sometimes planned and other times very spontaneous. At other times, I would head out to one of the agencies, connect with clients, have conversations with them and take photos if they were comfortable with it. Then it was back to the desk to work on transcriptions, organize content or work on social media content. One moment I could be behind my laptop and the next I was in a warehouse with a camera, at an agency speaking with a client, or trying to turn a conversation into a story that could be shared.

Was there a conversation, task, or project that left a lasting impression on you? What made it meaningful?

M: I feel like every conversation I had with each client left a little piece with me. I won’t lie and say it was all rainbows and puppies because many times it was hard to hear our clients’ struggles, but through these conversations we were able to facilitate access to resources if required, and sometimes all someone needed was another person listening to what they were going through. I realized how much just a single conversation can change someone’s mood, from being a bit angry or sad to sharing laughs at the end. If I in any way was able to make someone’s day feel a little better, for me that was all I needed.

Y: Several of the conversations I had with clients during interviews were very impactful. I remember speaking with a mom who was very concerned about providing her child’s preferred food. She shared that she would be okay if it were just her, but because she had a child, she was always worried. My mind comes back to this conversation because it echoes that food insecurity goes beyond not having enough food. Parents carry the weight of making sure their children are alright, and sometimes that worry goes far beyond what we see on the surface. On the content side, I really loved capturing the content of my coworkers, both in the office and in the warehouse. I appreciated how open and willing everyone was to participate. Whether it was hearing their feedback, seeing their enthusiasm when we shared something, or watching someone laugh as they recalled a particular piece of content we had created, these were the moments that made the work feel very communal. It made the storytelling feel like something we were doing together with people, rather than just about people.

What was something you thought you knew about food banks, but experienced differently once you joined Food Banks Mississauga?

M: I knew that there was food insecurity in Mississauga, just like 20 years ago when my parents immigrated to Canada, but what I failed to realize is the substantial growth there has been over the last few years of people needing to use the food bank. The cost of living and groceries have left so many people to rely on the food bank, and many times clients would feel “embarrassed” or they “didn’t expect to be here” when they arrived for the first time. But on the other hand, they were also super grateful for the support that the food bank gives them. It’s one less thing to worry about from all the things going on in their life.

Y: Whilst undergoing the interviews and conversations I had with our food bank neighbours at the agencies, I got to hear directly from them about their range of experiences, the circumstances that brought them to make use of the food bank services and how impactful having access to food support has been for them. Whether it’s the father who is able to cover the feeding needs of his children or the mother who’s breastfeeding, unable to work and relies on the food items to support her household, or the international newcomer student whose financial burdens are relieved when they don’t have to spend on food items. My mind has been stretched to take in the receiving end of the food process, further magnifying the impact that is created by donations, volunteer time and the entire process.

In 3 words, how would you describe working at Food Banks Mississauga?

M:
Collaborative: Everyone is so collaborative and willing to help each other out. I could especially see this through the Food Bank 2 Home program, where volunteers are picking out clients’ food items according to their dietary needs, and it’s all a smooth process where everyone is able to collaborate effectively to reach the goals.
Motivating: It’s really inspiring to see how much each person who works here is motivated to combat food insecurity in Mississauga. It shows how much they care about the organization. Their hard work and time do not go unnoticed, and it’s a reflection of the culture and environment that Food Banks Mississauga provides to their workers.
Rewarding: I am leaving Food Banks Mississauga with more knowledge and skills than when I first started. It will always have a special place in my heart, from speaking with clients, creating content and even as far as 20 years ago, to helping my family as newcomers to grow and accomplish all of our goals.

Y:
Hopeful: It’s a herculean task to tackle an issue like food insecurity, but here you have a group of extremely passionate individuals chipping away at the problem. Bringing relief, putting smiles on people’s faces and healing hearts. This particularly makes me dream and act towards a truly better world.
Supportive:  No matter the department, I would find that every volunteer or employee at Food Banks Mississauga goes above and beyond to provide assistance. A space that provides a reliable base infuses confidence that allows creativity to flourish.
Inspiring:  Everyone in their different roles put in the utmost care and dedication, from the neighbours in the community to workers in the warehouse, staff in the supporting agencies and volunteers. I was consistently reminded of the impact passionate people can have when we come together around a shared purpose.

Any final reflections, unexpected lessons, or shout-outs you’d like to share?

M: To the next interns that come along, I really want you to cherish these 4 months and to really reflect upon the person you were when you first started and all the way to the very end. Thank you to Jenna and Daisy from the marketing team for being a part of such a rewarding journey. It has been a pleasure to work with everybody and to help out the organization in any way I could. A big shout-out to all the workers and volunteers who help run this, it takes a great group of people, and I can confidently say that everyone working here is a gem. I leave here with immense gratitude, laughs, and a very full heart.

Y: It is with immense gratitude and a full heart that I want to thank everyone in the Food Banks Mississauga community. From the volunteers who engaged in conversations with us to the warehouse team who always welcomed us into their space, to the staff across different departments who helped with all our requests and multiple inquiries. It has been great connecting with and learning from you about the intricacies of food insecurity. A special shoutout to Jenna and Daisy, who made our experience both enjoyable and productive. Thank you for your guidance, creative freedom and for trusting us with the work of collecting and sharing stories. I’m leaving this experience with hope ignited, passion renewed to make the world a better place and with great appreciation for the people behind the work, the stories underneath the statistics and the importance of making space for people to be seen and heard.