Note From the Coordinators
Working During a Pandemic
Thank you to all our volunteers and staff who virtually helped The Vegetarian Resource Group projects continue during coronavirus restrictions. Of course Jason (IT) was indispensable.?A big thank you to Casey Brown, RD, who continued to work on the burger article, despite being extremely busy at a hospital that had cases of COVID-19.
Vegan dietetic intern Camryn was completing her year internship towards her registered dietitian credentials, but had to stop her hospital rotation because of the pandemic. Camryn's supervisor gave her permission to complete the requirement by finishing long-distance with us. Thank you to Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, on the other side of the country, for supervising this project.
A dietitian who was retired, but was called back to work at a hospital because of the pandemic, contacted VRG. She said she had spoken with our nutrition advisor Reed Mangels about 15 years ago, and Reed was one of the few people she could rely on for accurate information. The dietitian currently needed information, which Reed was able to supply. During all this, we also worked with Reed to submit testimony to the United States Department of Agriculture on school lunch, and to the Food and Drug Administration on standards of identity (for example, related to whether soymilk can be called soymilk, rather than soy beverage).
High school intern Lucía continued to work long-distance. Listen to her interview on Teen Radio at www.voiceamerica.com/episode/123457/vegetarian-lifestyle. Our researcher Jeanne kept making phone calls and pursuing answers from food companies, while Suzanne Hengen did nutrition analyses for this issue's recipes. Volunteer Coordinator Emilio oversaw the reading of 280 scholarship submissions by over 20 volunteers. Laura from New Mexico completed our Maryland email newsletter, and Whitney, working around her vegan twins, was able to complete the next VRG-News email newsletter. You can subscribe to the newsletter at www.vrg.org/vrgnews.
Amazingly enough, a Vegetarian Journal issue was mailed out by our printer and mailing house during the pandemic, because they are considered essential. Though advised by her doctor to isolate, our editor Rissa continued our streak of not missing an issue since 1982.
There's much more we know we should do, and wish we could do. Over 38 years, many people have had good ideas and thank you to all of the VRG volunteers, financial supporters, and staff who make projects happen under difficult circumstances. May all our members stay healthy!
Debra Wasserman & Charles Stahler
Coordinators of The Vegetarian Resource Group
