NewmarketToday continues its annual tradition of marking the giving season by celebrating Newmarket's Community Angels — the people whose kindness, compassion and community spirit help make our town one of the best to live in the country.
Eleana Manjarrez comes to the Newmarket Food Pantry every Saturday to volunteer.
The family has remained committed to the food bank, whether lending a hand to bag bread or gather donations. They help out each week, running an informal program to have residents with disabilities work together for the pantry, encouraging volunteerism.
The 18-year-old Manjarrez, who has autism, has created an initiative called Eleana’s Bazaar to help get hundreds of pounds of food for the pantry. She donated 370 pounds of cereal in August, and another 198 pounds Nov. 8.
“I feel proud,” Manjarrez said of what she has achieved. “I feel thankful for the customers.”
Manjarrez and her family have helped in the community for years, gathering donations each year for whatever the pantry needs. They have also volunteered and partnered with other non-profits like Commons Coffee and Catering and the Aurora Community Cafe.
Monica Manjarrez, Eleana’s mother, said they want to help those with disabilities remain integrated in their community while supporting people in need.
“Our goal is integration, and help our community at the same time," she said. “We know a few families. They are single mothers, they are struggling to put food on the table. They don’t eat, for the kids to eat something. That is tough to see.”
The elder Manjarrez said her daughter became interested in fundraising at Grade 4 and sold baked goods for causes since. Meanwhile, the family has connected with others, encouraging them to join in volunteering for the pantry.
“We changed our family, and hopefully, we can change the families that come here to help us, and they can start contributing a little more to the community as well,” Monia Manjarrez said.
Commons Coffee and Catering is a non-profit that helps those with autism and developmental differences learn work skills. The Manjarrez family regularly works with it at the Newmarket Farmers’ Market. Volunteer manager Susan Popper said she has known the Manjarrez family for six years, with Eleana gathering donations there.
“She has an amazing family because they’re all into helping other people in the community,” Popper said. ”I think she achieved quite a lot.”
Ian Radburn has started volunteering at the pantry with his son, Ethan Radburn, alongside the Manjarrez family. He said they connected through school, and it was a good chance to get his son out into the community.
“It gets him to come out and meet some new people and learn how to work for others,” he said. “We always hear about what they’re (the Manjarrez family) doing for everybody.”
Monica Manjarrez said they want to encourage more young people to be involved with their work. She said it is important for those with disabilities to feel welcomed.
“I don’t want them to feel segregated for the different abilities they have. Want the young kids to know it’s okay to be different. Sometimes, they struggle with so many things — especially teenagers — and it’s okay to come and see everybody's different,” she said. “They feel part of the community.”
The younger Manjarrez said she plans to keep up her altruism and help out at the food pantry.
“I want to keep working and packing things,” she said. “It makes me excited.”
