Benitez poses at the Memphis Zoo. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Benitez
Native Rhode Islander Rebecca Benitez has lived in many places, but she’s putting down roots in Omaha.
Since moving to Omaha with her husband, an Omaha native, Benitez says she has embraced the change of scenery. While she was initially hesitant about living in Omaha, Benitez appreciates the lower cost of living since purchasing and fixing up her home.
“I really didn’t want to move out here, but buying a home here is a lot more feasible than back east,” Benitez says. “Being able to afford a house and start to look at retirement was kind of a selling point. The comparison is just unbelievable.”
In addition to renovating her house, Benitez has worked at a high-end medical grade skincare company for about a year. While looking for a second job, she discovered Omaha LoCo Delivery on Facebook. She says the local delivery service intrigued her.
“I thought, ‘This looks interesting,’” Benitez says. “I liked the message in what LoCo was standing for as far as being part of the community. That’s what I was looking for.”
After she submitted a driver application, Benitez says Omaha LoCo Delivery general manager Clay Seaman contacted her within hours, and soon she was set up on the Onfleet driver app to make deliveries.
She says she felt like a part of the team from her first night of making deliveries and communicating with dispatchers.
Benitez takes a photo at Vis Major Brewing Company with friend and fellow LoCo Omaha driver Nicole Keeton. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Benitez (photo by Nicole Keeton)
“There was that team spirit aspect as opposed to working for a corporate company where you’re basically a robot,” Benitez says.
While she drove for Domino’s about 10 years ago, Benitez says she has never worked for national food delivery services, as she doesn’t care for the way companies like DoorDash treat restaurants.
She says she was drawn to Omaha LoCo Delivery due to the flexible hours and local-first approach.
“It gives me a lot of freedom,” Benitez says. “I get to make connections with restaurants and sometimes customers. I like that.”
Along with interacting with restaurant employees and the LoCo team, Benitez says she likes to eat at LoCo restaurants such as The Galley and Vis Major. When she’s not working, she enjoys crafting, playing pool, spending time with her cats, and exploring the Midwest.
Benitez says she would recommend driving for LoCo due to the teamwork aspect.
“I like being a part of something greater than I am,” she says. “The overall experience has just been amazing.”
Featured image courtesy of Rebecca Benitez