VOLUNTEER PURPOSE
Bonadio Group helps bring light to new food pantry at CEO
“We close our offices for two days, one to help the community and that’s part of helping develop our culture and to develop a purpose of whywedowhatwedo.” — Tom Gianastasio, Bonadio Group Albany office managing partner
TROY, N.Y. » Employees from the Bonadio Group helped volunteer at the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) in Troy Thursday.
The volunteer initiative marks the company’s second annual Purpose Day. It’s all part of a firm-wide volunteer effort throughout the Capital District which also includes helping out at The Charlton School, Northern Rivers Family Services Inc., St. Catherine’s and the USS SLATER.
“CEO has been a client of ours for many years. On an annual basis, we close our office throughout the state. There’s over 500 people serving the communities in which we work at various different nonprofit organizations,” Tom Gianastasio, Bonadio Group Albany office managing partner said of their partnership with CEO.
“We close our offices for two days, one to help the community and that’s part of helping develop our culture and to develop a purpose of why we do what we do,” Gianastasio added of the purpose behind the company initiative.
Gianastasio also detailed their goal of helping CEO this year.
“We’re moving the food pantry up from the basement to the third floor to help them better serve their communities,” Gianastasio noted of the effort moving food and supplies to the new area of the building.
“Last year was the first year, this is our second year, and it was a big hit. I think the employees really appreciate and enjoy going out into the communities and helping people in which they serve. It’s something different, it’s getting out from behind the desk and making sure we’re really making a difference within the community,” Gianastasio added of how much the employees enjoyed volunteering.
Brian Delaney, Facilities Director at CEO was appreciative of the help given by the Bonadio Group employees.
“It’s a huge help, we’re so appreciative of it because this is a lot of work for our department to try and do by ourselves. To have the help of so many supporters it’s great, it really is great,” Delaney said.
“They’ve been exceptional and we depend on them and their volunteering for basically everything, so anytime we have any big projects like this it’s important to have the support of the community and volunteers like this, it’s great,” Delaney added of the importance of having volunteers help out.
In addition, Delaney detailed the significance in the shift of the food pantry from a dark basement to a wide-open space with windows.
“It’s a new experience for our food pantry employees, from being in the basement, they’ve been in a dungeon for so long with no windows or anything like that, to get them up here definitely raises their morale and just to get them in a new area I think it’s a great experience for them,” Delaney noted.
Delaney also noted how CEO is always seeking volunteers to help out with the food pantry.
“The food pantry itself really counts on volunteers on a daily basis. Volunteers in the food pantry every day is important and we do count on that,” Delaney said.
“This is a great experience, I’m glad that we have the help of all of these people and we count on it and it’s great to get our food pantry in a new location, it’s brighter, it’s happier and I think it’s definitely going to help support the community,” Delaney concluded.