Experiences by Taylor Brione’s Post

We have a story in the latest issue of Neighbourhood Media detailing all the work we do via Addison Road Food Pantry Camperdown, our low-cost grocery store which makes use of rescued, donated and purchased food to support the local community and its needs. The story (link below) shows how we help feed people from Mission Australia's Common Ground housing project and the nearby Johanna O’Dea Court, a multi-storey NSW Family and Community Services apartment block. It also explains how we serve people living on a tight budget in Camperdown and Glebe, as well as people who come to the pantry from right across the City of Sydney LGA. Most of all, the story is a celebration of our monthly Addi Road 'Let's Get Cooking' sessions (AKA "the Cook-Up"), which offers 260 free hot meals for Mission Australia and Joanna O'Dea residents, as well as those shopping at our Addi Road Food Pantry Camperdown. These sessions involve a monthly cooking demo inside the Common Ground building. Food literacy is the ultimate goal behind Addi Road's Let's Get Cooking program. As well as simply providing a free hot meal (and dessert) each month, we look at helping people to shop AND cook with often very limited funds. Each month there are easy recipes on offer (and ready to be tasted) along extra tips for stocking people's kitchen cupboards; a list of essentials to facilitate simple, inexpensive and nutritious recipes that will match whatever Addi Road Food Pantry might have in stock. It's about building an integrated food ecology for people battling. With a few extra special ingredients over a shared meal as the community comes together: camaraderie and connection. + #Addiroad #cityofsydney #foodrelief #foodjustice #housing #inequality #Camperdown #Glebe #MissionAustralia #homeless #battling #costofliving #poverty #resilience #mentalhealth #wellbeing #nutrition #diet #charity #community #freemeals #cookingworkshop #volunteers #caring #education #connection #letsgetcooking #neighbourhoodmedia https://lnkd.in/gs7vVEvM

Your organization can make a meaningful difference today fighting hunger in our community. You may have seen The Ottawa Mission's food trucks in neighborhoods like Westboro, Carlington, and Little Italy, bringing vital support far beyond our downtown shelter. These trucks aren’t just about meals—they’re about hope. With grocery prices soaring by 22% and rent increasing 20% since 2020, many people in our city are being forced to make the impossible choice between shelter and food. The Ottawa Mission’s food truck program is helping to ease that burden, serving thousands of meals weekly in 38 underserved communities across Ottawa. One grateful food truck client shared, “The price of everything is going up. I’m 70 and retired...I need these meals to get by.” Your support today can directly impact the neighborhoods where your employees and clients live, work, and thrive. By partnering with The Ottawa Mission, you’re not just providing meals—you’re investing in the well-being of our community. Learn more about how your organization can get involved. Together, we can nourish our city. #CorporateResponsibility #OttawaCommunity #SupportLocal #TheOttawaMission #MoreThanAShelter

The Greater Chicago Food Depository completed a $43M expansion of its commercial kitchen on the Southwest side of Chicago. 🏗️ The 38,000-square-foot expansion will enable to the facility to produce up to 10,000 meals a day with 15 new workers to help curb the demand. #BeinIllinois https://bit.ly/3ZMrC0H

Unpopular Opinion: The Hustle Mentality is Destroying the Restaurant Industry. The "hustle" culture in restaurants. The one glorifying long hours and constant stress. Has been the norm for far too long. And it's also the leading cause of high turnover and burnout. Which is quite possibly our industry’s biggest challenge. We’ve built an environment where working through exhaustion is seen as a badge of honor. Missing special events is a common theme. And actual days off are more of a myth than a reality. Especially this time of year. This is unsustainable and makes it harder to keep people in the industry. To get ahead,we need to change. Let’s focus on balance, mental health, and sustainability. Only then can we create a thriving, long-term workforce. Who’s with me❓ 👊🏻 Ps. This year for the entire month of December, I’m donating to The Burnt Chef Project in order to show my support. Here is what I am giving. 50% of books sold here -> www.jimtaylor.ca 50% of courses sold(and you get a free book with this) here -> https://lnkd.in/gUt28pGa Join me in supporting our industry. #Restaurants #HustleCulture #MentalHealthMatters

An interesting book, I am reading now in my Kindle: Bold Operations "Building the foundation of strategic excellence in restaurants" Author: Jim Taylor Restaurant Owner ➖ Author ➖ Keynote Speaker➖Award Winning Business Strategist.

Parents are the first call to action when it comes to food and their children's involvement. They play distinct roles in ensuring the children have proper understanding of food handling inorder to avert wastage by and promote healthy habits and lifelong skills. Try cooking, meal planning, and grocery shopping together. Assign age-appropriate tasks, such as setting the table or washing dishes. Foster teamwork, food awareness, and a positive relationship with food. You can also take them on excursion to food producing companies and large farms. Involving kids in food activities sparks appreciation and gratitude. They will develop a sense of ownership and connection to the meal. By exploring different flavors, they'll understand the effort and love that goes into putting food on the table. This hands-on approach teaches them to value food, reduce waste, and respect the process. As they grow, they'll cherish memories of quality time spent together in the kitchen, fostering a lifelong appreciation for the simple joys of sharing meals, as it's often said that “Charity begins in the home”. #TRASHNOT24 #RightToFoodNotToWaste #SustainableEating #ZeroWaste #ParentingForChange #WorldFoodDay2024

Sometimes even the most impactful initiatives face insurmountable challenges. Dave Letele's decision to close BBM FoodShare is a sobering reminder of the ongoing struggle many communities face. His work has touched countless lives, providing essential support to up to 1000 families weekly. The closure of this vital service highlights the pressing need for sustainable funding models in community support programs. He (and the families) need your support -> https://lnkd.in/gBaWSy3 While one chapter ends, Dave's commitment to uplifting his community through health, education, and empowerment programs continues. His transparency about this difficult decision sheds light on the immense pressure faced by community leaders and organisations. Let's reflect on how we can better support these crucial initiatives. Can we create more sustainable models? How can we ensure that those most in need don't fall through the cracks? Dave's resilience is inspiring. As he says, 'Surely there must be a way to continue?' Perhaps this is a call for all of us to step up and find innovative solutions to support our communities. Show your support here -> https://lnkd.in/gBaWSy3 #CommunitySupport #SocialImpact #Resilience #BBMFoodshare #Sustainability #SocEnt #SocialEnterprise

When access to fresh food is disrupted by unexpected events, having a reliable solution is essential. That’s where shelf-stable meals come in. Our ready-to-eat, nutritious meals provide peace of mind during emergencies, ensuring that individuals and communities stay nourished even when traditional meal options aren’t available. At TRIO Community Meals, our shelf-stable meal options are designed to withstand power outages, meal service disruptions, and other unforeseen circumstances—allowing you to be prepared and supported during uncertain times. 🌟 Connect with us to explore how our emergency meal programs can support your readiness and resilience. https://lnkd.in/e-FeNYy9 #DisasterPreparedness #EmergencyMeals #ShelfStableMeals #TRIOCommunityMeals

JULY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The need for our daily Noon Meal has been rising and we are feeding more and more people each day. We rely on volunteers to help us serve our patrons- can you help out on one of the dates listed below? Each day, we need: 2-3 people to help prepare food from 9a-11a (includes chopping, making sandwiches, repackaging snacks, putting together sack lunches, opening cans, etc.) 5-7 people to help serve food on a cafeteria style line from 11a-1p Dates with asterisks by them are the biggest needs. If you can help on the dates listed below, please message the page or email outreach@goodsaminn.org *Volunteers must be 10 or older to help with preparation shifts and 13 or older to help with serving. See less

Chef Kwame Onwuachi's "Notes From a Young Black Chef" is a masterclass in starting without permission! Here's a story that resonated with me: 👨🏾🍳 He cooked up his success story  (pun intended ) with #problemsolving and a "why." 💡 His "why?" Ensuring people felt cared for through his food! He didn't have a culinary arts degree but knew he could make people feel cared for with the experience he provided with his food. So what did he do? He started a catering business. He sold candy on NYC trains to raise funds for material - and always kept an ear out for an opportunity to secure a catering gig. He landed his first catering job- by offering his help to a fellow new small business owner he met by walking into her store.  As his business grew, he became curious about the science behind food. A few months later, he enrolled in a culinary program. To fund his education, he continued working weekends as a caterer! These steps- taking the leap to start his business and building on skills as he grew- enabled him to become a Top Chef. 💡 I found it inspiring to read about how Chef Kwame overcame a hurdle I struggle with—starting! I have a constant loop about not knowing enough; the truth is that the only way I'll truly know (and break out of the loop) is by doing. I was reminded to start somewhere, anywhere—with a strong why and effort!  📝 What's your 'why' that keeps you going? Let's chat in the comments! #Laasthoughts #skilldevelopment #promotion #careerpivot #justdoit #lifelonglearning