Foodeliver Team

Ali Shaker, is an educator, researcher, and community builder who believes no good meal should ever go to waste—or go unshared. After years in education and non-profit leadership, he founded Foodeliver to make food access simple, sustainable, and full of heart. His vision: fewer hungry families, less wasted food, and a city where kindness travels on four wheels. Because delivery brings dignity. Many families can’t always reach food banks or carry heavy bags on buses so bringing food to their door ensures access with respect, privacy, and care. We meet families where they are, not where they have to go.

Responsibilities: Oversees partnerships, strategy, volunteer coordination, and community outreach.

Hobbies / interests: Marathon running, discovering new vegetarian recipes, road trips with family, and coming up with big ideas over strong coffee!

I am Lois Okeke, Executive Assistant to the Director of Foodeliver Community Group. With a strong passion for product optimization focused on customer needs, I leverage my skills in product management to support the Director in achieving Foodeliver's mission and vision.

As someone who has personally experienced the challenges of transitioning into a new environment with financial constraints, I deeply understand the importance of accessing healthy meals with dignity. I believe that having a reliable source of nutritious food enables individuals to focus on their personal and professional development, ultimately contributing to the growth of their community.

I am committed to alleviating poverty and food insecurity through educational programs and initiatives such as Foodeliver, and I am excited to be part of a team that shares this vision.

Taymaz Valley is the Social Media Coordinator for foodeliver, joining the team early on with the belief in the mission of the organization to eradicate food insecurity in Canada.

Ayesha Siddiqua: I am Ayesha a third-year student in IT at Carleton University. Avid in tech and always looking to learn, she was excited to join this venture in hopes to reduce food insecurity for newcomer families and reduce food wastage, thus also assisting the global climate change movement. My role at foodelive is to generate high-quality content, oversee social media accounts and successfully spread the message that foodeliver wants to convey.  

I believe in this mission because Foodeliver is a thoughtful and effective organization that bridges the gap between food access and food insecurity. By removing transportation barriers, Foodeliver ensures that newcomers who have limited or no access to reliable transportation can still receive healthy, dignified food support. This approach not only meets an immediate need but also helps ease the broader challenges newcomers face as they settle into a new community. 

I am super good at baking, like a pro. I've been told many times to sell the baked goods I make, but I'm going to continue to gatekeep my talent to just family.

Eyshah Umar: I am a second  year public administration and political science at the university of ottawa. I am a communications and design creator for Foodeliver and mainly focus on social media work. I believe in Foodelivers mission because everyone deserves access to food with dignity. The best thing about me is my passion for my work

Natalie Clare Reid is a third-year Public Administration student at the University of Ottawa with experience in communications and graphic design. She is passionate about supporting philanthropic efforts and excited to be on the Foodeliver team!

My name is Salma Yarjani and for over a decade I’ve worked alongside newcomers in different roles and settings. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of supporting immigrant and newcomer families across Canada, and I’ve seen firsthand both the challenges they face and the resilience they bring to our communities.

I believe deeply in our mission to share kindness by making food accessible to newcomer families. Food security is a basic human need, no one should have to worry about how they will feed their family.

With Foodeliver, I manage the grants and research team, supporting the work behind the scenes so we can continue growing our impact. What inspires me most is being part of an organization that not only reduces food waste, but also ensures families feel respected, welcomed, and supported as they build their new lives here.  I’m truly grateful to work alongside such a compassionate, like-minded team and to play a small part in bringing comfort and relief to the families we serve.

Lijing Yu: With a Master’s in Urban Regeneration and a professional background in strategic planning across global cities like Shanghai, Singapore, and Manchester, I bring a unique spatial and structural perspective to Foodeliver. As a Research & Grants Associate, I focus on identifying funding opportunities and crafting data-driven proposals to secure the resources necessary for our growth.

I believe that a sustainable food system is the backbone of a resilient community. Foodeliver’s commitment to bridging the gap between surplus and need aligns perfectly with my passion for creating more equitable and efficient urban environments.

I am a "data-driven storyteller." I love the challenge of turning complex logistics and social impact numbers into a compelling narrative that inspires people to take action.

Deena Abbas: I am an Accounting student at Carleton University. I am very passionate about supporting initiatives that create practical, measurable change in our communities, and I am proud to contribute to Foodeliver’s work in expanding food access across Ottawa.

I joined Foodeliver because I believe access to food is a fundamental part of dignity and well being. While many organizations work hard to address food insecurity, there are still gaps in delivery and accessibility that prevent food from reaching those who need it most.

Shazia Shah: My name is Shazia, and my work is in Client Relations. I was introduced to Foodeliver while supporting a family who had evacuated from Gaza for their daughter’s medical treatment. During that time, I saw firsthand the immense pressures families face when navigating crisis and care in unfamiliar surroundings.

What truly stood out to me about Foodeliver was its ethos — the commitment to reducing food insecurity and ensuring that families who may not have the means, time, or emotional capacity to seek out food can still access it with dignity. By removing the transportation barrier and delivering food directly to families, Foodeliver eases the burden on those who are already exhausted and overwhelmed. It’s one less thing for them to worry about — and that deeply resonated with me.

I felt strongly compelled to join the Foodeliver team because I believe in its mission. The impact is practical, immediate, and meaningful.

I am a Residential Designer by trade and I love traveling and spending time with family and friends. Connection is at the heart of everything I do, both personally and professionally — and being part of the Foodeliver team, whose dedication and compassion are truly phenomenal, aligns perfectly with that value.

My name is Ms Jamal and I am the Drivers Coordinator for Foodeliver. My role is to support clear communication and ensure effective, timely coordination between food pick-ups by drivers, and drop-offs to clients' home. I bring skill in time management, scheduling, conflict resolution, and planning in hopes of supporting volunteers and the families we are serving.

I believe in Foodeliver's mission to work together and reduce food waste and food security in Ottawa. Access to healthy, nutritional food in a dignified way should be a right for all.

I am a great listener, patient and have a natural joy for cooking and bringing people together through food.   

Abiola Adeyefa: My name is Abiola, and I’m a member of the Web Development team at Foodeliver. I contribute to building and improving our web platforms to ensure they are responsive, user-friendly, and aligned with our mission.

In addition to development, I serve as the Google Workspace Administrator, where I manage our email systems, user accounts, security configurations, and collaboration tools to support smooth communication and secure operations across the team.

I strongly believe in Foodeliver’s mission to support and provide for families in need. Access to food is a basic necessity, but it also represents dignity, stability, and hope. Being part of an organization that is committed to helping families during difficult times is something I truly value.

When families are supported, communities become stronger.

The best thing about me is my consistency and problem-solving mindset. I pay attention to details, take ownership of my responsibilities, and stay committed to delivering quality results. I’m always learning and looking for better ways to improve systems and processes.

Rick Kasenga: My name is Rick Kasenga, and I am the Website Designer at Foodeliver. I am a versatile web and graphic designer with over three years of experience in website creation, branding, and digital visual design. I specialize in designing modern, responsive, and user-friendly websites that align with organizational goals and deliver meaningful user experiences.

At Foodeliver, my role is to design and maintain a website that clearly communicates our mission, facilitates donations, and makes it easy for volunteers, grocery partners, and families to connect with our services. I ensure that the platform is accessible, visually engaging, and optimized for a smooth user experience.

I strongly believe in Foodeliver’s mission because everyone deserves access to healthy food. Supporting newcomer families with dignity while reducing food waste is not just a service — it is an act of kindness and social responsibility. I am proud to contribute my technical and creative skills to a cause that directly impacts lives and builds a more caring community in Ottawa.

The best thing about me is my ability to combine creativity with structure. 

I am detail-oriented, results-driven, and passionate about using technology and design to solve real-world problems. 

I work independently, adapt quickly, and always aim to deliver high-quality results that make a difference.

Thao Nguyen: I make websites that don't crash during dinner rushes—and volunteer laughs along the way! As Foodeliver's web dev,  I implement updates, fix bugs, and improve website performance to support operational activities and digital engagement, all while studying data science. I'm reliable, creative, and debugging code faster than I beat Minecraft levels, but spot-on at turning code into community good. I believe no family should go hungry, so I'm here to make Foodeliver's site as nourishing as the meals it delivers!