Justin Tamburro, CAPM, CSM, MBA’s Post

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

🌟 Let's Shine a Light on Corporate Kindness 🌟 I had the privilege of witnessing something truly heartwarming yesterday. During my trip to Edmonton this week, I stopped by the Brewery District Shoppers Drug Mart. While waiting in line, I saw two homeless men approach another cashier. Unsure of what would happen next, I watched as the cashier greeted them with genuine smiles, offering each of them bottles of water and asking if they'd like "their snacks." To my surprise, she had a basket full of goodies tucked away under her till, a practice initiated by their manager to support those in need in the downtown core. As I left the store, I saw the men unpacking their "snack bags" with gratitude, which included a bagel and a bottle of Boost. Later that evening, I visited Cobbs Bakery for a fresh loaf of bread but arrived just after closing time. However, I witnessed something equally inspiring – the staff loading unsold baked goods into a van. When I inquired, they explained that they donate all unsold products to local food insecurity organizations every single night. In a world often filled with negative news, it's essential to highlight acts of kindness. If you've witnessed or experienced similar instances of corporate caring, I encourage you to share them below and tag the unsung heroes making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Let's spread the positivity together! 🌍💙 #KindnessMatters #CorporateKindness #SpreadKindness #ActsOfKindness #CommunityImpact #PayItForward #PositivityInAction #MakingADifference #GoodDeeds #PositiveImpact #SocialGood #BeTheChange #KindnessInspires #GivingBack #HelpingHands

Managing the logistics and volunteers for the 9/11 Day Meal Packing Event was no small feat, but incredibly rewarding! With over 1,000 volunteers, multiple shifts, and thousands of meals to pack, there were a lot of moving parts to ensure everything ran smoothly. #LogisticsManagement #VolunteerManagement #ServiceDay #911Day #TeamWork #LeadershipInAction

Only poor, broke people use food pantries. Or so I thought... Our society today is built in a way that we often feel shame for things we really should not be ashamed of. Using a food pantry is an example. I have spent the last 9 months volunteering my time supporting the director of the Salvation Army food pantry in town. I have learned a lot of things about social services and how important it is for us to bring our empathy and compassion to the work that we do. In this work, I have experienced and observed a plethora of emotions as clients get served. For some, it is an outpouring of gratitude and appreciation as they come through the pantry. I have had at least 3 clients randomly hug me out of pure joy at being able to access groceries for free. Some others walk into the pantry, avoiding eye contact, almost like there is shame attached to their presence in the pantry. Sometimes, there’s nervous energy, and people start to explain and tell you things like, “𝘖𝘩, 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩.” “𝘐 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 3 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴”. “𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦.” I have come to notice these patterns, and these are 3 ways I deal with them; - I always start out by building rapport before providing the service. It is a simple "how are you doing today?" that lights up their faces because they know someone cares. - I explain in detail the process and what to expect as they shop. I want to make sure people know what to do to avoid awkward/embarrassing moments. - If I have to say no to a request, I explain why politely. Sometimes, people may come off as entitled, but they may also just really be unaware; I like to give the benefit of the doubt. This one is a bonus, I smile. I have heard from clients that my smile makes them feel at ease, so even on hard days, I smile. Everyone has a story. My job is not to assume things about clients but to serve in a way that is efficient and compassionate. These are the same skills I bring to serving the educational communities I engage with as I transition to a role in Learning and Development: Instructional Design. After all is said and done in grad school, my mission and vision is to curate programs that have the capacity to change many lives, especially those of a vulnerable population.  𝐏.𝐒- 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 who lives 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬, 𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞! 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩, 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. So, how do you navigate awkward situations when providing social services? #msw #pantry #service #gradstudent #volunteering #socialwork #internationalstudents

Every month, TAADAS (TN Association of Alcohol, Drug, and other Addiction Services) celebrates birthdays and anniversaries of people on staff. This marks my fourth year of working with them as one of my clients. March 20 was also Salad Day in the office. Staff members each brought a food item related to salads -- pasta, croutons, onions, tomatoes, fruit. We piled these items on our plates, making fabulous salads that we created together. These gestures can make a big impact on workplace morale. They build community. People feel seen and heard. They feel like they matter. It's a big payoff at a small cost to the workplace. #workplacemorale #nonprofitmanagement

collaboration makes it easier

🧡💙 Want to support your local food pantry without spending a cent? Here are some simple yet powerful ways to make an impact: 1. 🔄 Share our posts to help raise awareness in your community! 2. 👍 Like our posts to show your support! 3. ✨ Tag a friend who cares about giving back and challenge them to join you! 4. 💌 Comment something uplifting on their posts to boost their spirits. 5. 🤳 Snap a picture of our pantry and share it to inspire others! 6. 💬 Leave a positive review and spread the love! Together, we can make a difference! Who are you tagging to spread the word? #SupportLocal #FoodPantry #CommunityLove

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

Burger King flips the script with grey meals – not a taste test, but a call to action against child bullying! Burger King serves 1 in 10 items in grey, not for taste but to shed light on the alarming 1 in 10 children facing bullying in France. It's not just a meal; it's a message. Numbers come to life as Burger King integrates the bullying statistic into operations, making the issue tangible and creatively using its platform to address a critical problem. On the grey-themed day, all profits are donated to combat child bullying, showcasing Burger King's commitment to making a positive social impact beyond traditional marketing. By sparking curiosity through grey meals and surroundings, Burger King effectively raises awareness, addressing a hidden issue that needs public attention. It's about making a statement with every bite. Burger King sets an example of merging marketing with social causes, inspiring others to leverage their platforms for meaningful impact. Ready to make a difference in your industry? #BurgerKingForChange #SocialImpactMarketing #EndChildBullying #TripodCreativeAgency #advertisingandmarketing #antibullying #burgerking #cause #awareness #advertising #marketing #socialresponsibility #socialmedia

The British philosopher John Gray wrote, “We are who we are because of the places in which we grow up, the accents and friends we acquire by chance, the burdens we have not chosen but somehow learn to cope with. Real communities are always local-places in which people have put down roots and are willing to put up with the burdens of living together..." Places, roots, accents, friends, loyalties, caring, burdens & responsibilities. An authentic & organic community is held together by a set of first principles or virtues and values just like a built structure is supported by a firm foundation, by brick and mortar, stone & concrete, by sets of columns & beams etc. In the case of the physical structure, remove the supports and the structure will come tumbling down, collapsing under its own weight into a pile of rubble. The same is true of organic communities which are also like structures, built with effort, care, love and compassion over long spans of time, held in place by the firm supports of human values and the glue of human relationships. Without love, caring and compassion, without commitment, without the willingness to shoulder duties & responsibilities, local communities cannot survive, cannot thrive. Keep up the good work.