Proceeds from VON team member’s sandwich creation will benefit VON Meals on Wheels clients
When Marcos Zorzi Rosa, a VON Business Systems Analyst, saw that a new restaurant in his neighbourhood had launched a program to support local charities, he knew just the charity to suggest.
“Supporting VON and our programs is incredibly meaningful to me,” he says. “As part of the VON team, I witness the profound impact our work has on lives every day.”
Kanata, Ontario restaurant Comfort Cravings invited customers to submit recipes to be featured on the menu, with $2 of every item sold going to the recipe creator’s charity of choice.
Marcos, who initially started working with VON as an external service provider in 2019, submitted a recipe on behalf of himself and his wife, Kayla, and was pleased to hear that his sandwich would appear on the menu, with proceeds benefiting VON’s Meals on Wheels program.
“The inspiration for the Zorzi Sandwich comes from a classic Brazilian sandwich that is commonly found in bakeries, cafes and lunch spots throughout the country,” he says. “While each restaurant puts its own twist on the recipe, the version chosen for the campaign at Comfort Cravings closely follows the original recipe created by the cafeteria at the law school of the University of São Paulo.”
Marcos was also inspired to work with and give back to VON based on his experiences growing up with his grand-aunts, Linda and Erma, in Brazil. “They remained independent and active, thanks to the exceptional services they received at home,” he says. “When mobility challenges arose as they aged, the care they received at home made a significant difference in their lives. This connection fuels my passion for the vital work we do and the extraordinary services VON provides across Ontario and Nova Scotia.”
Marcos and some of his Ottawa VON teammates, enjoyed sampling the sandwich during VON Week in May. As the sandwich is the first in the restaurant’s charitable giving program, owner Phil has extended its availability into July to ensure maximum funds are raised to help VON provide meals to those in need.
The special Zorzi Sandwich is made with a choice of bread, roast beef, fresh tomatoes, provolone cheese, spicy pickles (chef’s secret recipe!) and mayonnaise mixed with oregano. For those who would like to recreate the sandwich at home, Marcos recommends using a panini grill or a non-stick pan to grill the sandwich and enjoy warm.
Pictured: Top, Marcos met with President and CEO, Jo-Anne Poirier, during VON Week to celebrate his sandwich creation.
