Volunteer of the Month: Bruno Tojo
April 25, 2019
CUESA’s Volunteer of the Month program recognizes the dedication and work of some of our most active volunteers. CUESA relies on volunteers to help with education programs, special events, public outreach, and other activities that help fulfill our mission to cultivate a sustainable food system. Learn more about volunteering and sign up here.
CUESA’s Foodwise Kids program inspires 2,200 first through fifth graders annually to love local and seasonal produce. Our regular volunteers, who lead student groups through the market and share kitchen skills with them as they create their own dishes, are the backbone of the program. Since the fall of 2018 Bruno Tojo is one of our exemplary volunteers who devotes his time supporting Foodwise Kids. He “was looking for a program that could join [his] love for cooking and science. Foodwise Kids does that while educating students that cooking and sustainable behavior are healthy and fun.”
“Bruno has been a wonderfully reliable support for our Foodwise Kids program, which depends heavily on our volunteers for its success,” says Volunteer and Special Projects Coordinator Cindy Mendoza. “He skipped the orientation and connected directly with the program since our need for committed volunteers is so great. Since then he has also lent a hand to our Market to Table cooking demonstrations, our recent Goat Fest, spring cocktail event and office projects. He’s been a friendly, well-rounded addition to our team and so indispensable to our work. We very much appreciate all the time he has given to us in the classroom, kitchen, market and office.” Meet Bruno.
CUESA: Where does your interest in food come from?
Bruno: I come from a family where everyone is a great cook, so I have grown up surrounded by tasty food.
CUESA: What do you do when you aren’t volunteering for CUESA?
Bruno: I am a mechanical engineer and have developed robots and autonomous systems.
CUESA: What is your favorite part about volunteering with CUESA?
Bruno: My favorite part about volunteering is being able to teach the kids about how food can make a difference in the world and making cooking fun.
CUESA: Do you have an insider market tip or a favorite produce item at the market right now?
Bruno: My favourite thing about all the produce from the farmers market is how tasty it is. It reminds me of the vegetables my grandma used to cook when I was a kid before supermarkets were everywhere. I discovered how flexible and awesome beets are while working with Foodwise Kids and now we cook them weekly!
Topics: Volunteers and Interns