CLAUDIA: Nourishing Bonds and Values at Refettorio Merida

Refettorio, a name now synonymous with love, nourishment, and community, serves as a place where food goes beyond simple nourishment. With Food for Soul, Refettorio takes surplus food, filled with potential, and transforms it into delectable meals that feed more than just the body. It feeds the soul and connects people. In this “Food Saved Me” series, meet Claudia, whose story at Refettorio Merida embodies the true essence of food and community.

Meet CLAUDIA

As the Operational Coordinator at Refettorio Merida, Claudia brings a rich heritage from her family working in the restaurant sector. She believes in food as an act of love and connection, a belief that resonates with every guest at the Refettorio.

Food as an Act of Love

Claudia's relationship with food transcends its basic function. To her, food carries an emotional significance that binds people together.

A Connection Through Meals

"Food is love for me, it is connection. To feed someone is basically to give life. When you eat with someone, you are sharing a bit of your intimacy," Claudia expresses. Her passion for food and its ability to connect people has turned Refettorio Merida into a big, operational family.

A Family Beyond Boundaries

"Staying at the Refettorio has made my family bigger. We spend more than 8 hours together every day. We are a big operational family. And also a huge family with all the guests that come here," she shares, emphasizing how the Refettorio has expanded her sense of family and community.

A Mission to Save and Transform Food

Claudia’s work at Refettorio Merida also involves saving food and transforming it into delicious meals.

Rescuing Ingredients, Respecting Nature

"We have a path to recollect food in the Abastos centre, we try to be there 3 times a week to rescue ingredients. It is surplus food, not food waste. It’s still good, it’s maybe not up to usual aesthetic standards to be sold or used in markets or restaurants. But it’s still food and it’s still nutritious," Claudia explains.

Turning Surplus into Sustenance

Through a meticulous process of selection, disinfection, and transformation, Claudia and her team turn surplus food into wholesome meals that serve the community.

Conscious Living, Conscious Eating

Claudia also emphasizes the need for awareness in how we treat food. "If we had equal access to global resources, our society would be very different. Without food, there would be no humanity. There is too much food waste and too little conscience," Claudia states, urging us to recognize the global imbalance in food distribution.

Cooking with Awareness

"Working here I have more conscience on how and what I cook and eat. Better understand how food is seasonal and how this affects the world," she adds, underscoring the importance of mindful consumption.

Grundig and Food for Soul

Being official partners with Food for Soul, we at Grundig are truly privileged to know and introduce extraordinary people like Claudia. Her story, echoing the sentiments of love, connection, and consciousness, aligns perfectly with our values.

Her work at Refettorio Merida illuminates how food is a symbol of unity, love, and care. Through her eyes, we learn the profound effect of mindful eating and the incredible power of community that Refettorio fosters. We celebrate her and many others who make Refettorio a haven of warmth, nourishment, and love.