insight
Last week, Kubrick consultants, colleagues, and clients joined together to participate in the 2023 NYC Meal Pack, an event organized by the 9/11 Day organization. Volunteers packed an astounding 1.4 million meals, all of which were donated to local NYC food rescue organizations, in what the event organizers called their most successful Meal Pack yet.
We’re proud to be a sponsor of this event and support the 9/11 Day nonprofit organization, which was formed six months after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with the goal of transforming the anniversary of the attacks into a National Day of Service & Remembrance. Their mission, as articulated by the event organizers, is ‘to inspire millions of Americans and others to rekindle the remarkable spirit of unity and compassion that arose in the aftermath of 9/11, and to perform good deeds and other acts of service in tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors, first responders, and members of our military who bravely rose in service in response to the attacks.’
In New York City, corporate volunteers gathered aboard the USS Intrepid, surpassing the organization’s goal of 4,000 participants by reaching upwards of 5,000 total volunteers (and with more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide). It was great to see many of our client companies such as J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Morgan Stanley, also showing their support and partaking in this initiative, which resulted in 1,416,448 meals packed in New York City alone - and 6,767,584 across the nation – for people experiencing food insecurity.
“I've always wanted to give back to the community, but I've always had difficulty participating in events like this because I either couldn't find them, or I had no one else to go with,” explained Kubrick Data Product Consultant Ayush Manandhar. “It was amazing to see so many organizations come together and dedicate time and effort for this selfless cause,” he said, “and I had a great time sharing this experience with my coworkers. I would be more than happy to participate in events like this in the future.”
In a society that frequently prioritizes fast-paced efficiency - especially during this era of rapid advancement across industries - it is important to dedicate time towards fostering a sense of community and purpose. At Kubrick, we seek to not only provide opportunities for our consultants to develop, but to do so in a way that is beyond just technical skills: to experience the joy of giving back, taking a step outside of our daily routines and out into our community, where we can contribute and directly make an impact.
In an overview of volunteering’s proven benefits, the mental health nonprofit HelpGuide.org utilized various research studies to articulate the positive effects of volunteer work. From counteracting the effects of stress, anger, anxiety, and depression, to increasing self-confidence, providing a sense of purpose, and even lessening symptoms of chronic pain, volunteering within one’s community and making a real impact has the power to cause profound fulfillment. And in a recent study by UC Davis Health, new data revealed that volunteering in one’s community as an older adult is associated with better cognitive functioning, and thus protects the brain against cognitive decline and dementia.
“It’s also important to note that volunteering can encourage communication and strengthen relations among employees who may not always have the time to interact during their typical daily routine,” remarked Camilla Dickson, one of our Kubrick Mental Health First Aiders, which is a trained employee resource group to provide guidance and resources for someone undergoing or at risk of a mental health challenge or crisis. “It’s also a great way to boost employee morale and satisfaction,” Camilla continued, “and result in positive effects on your wellbeing while making a direct impact on those in need.”
Following the 2023 Meal Pack for 9/11 Day, Kubrick Business Insights Analyst, Fan Xu, expressed that “the event was really fun and enjoyable to be a part of. There was a great atmosphere,” Fan said, “and it was very empowering working in tandem with everyone to do something special. The people who organized everything did an excellent job and created an uplifting, spirited environment of unity and involvement.”
All in all, we are very grateful for the representation of our consultants, colleagues, and client partners at this year’s 9/11 Day Meal Pack, in observance of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Thank you to the 9/11 Day event organizers for orchestrating a wonderful event and providing the opportunity for so many people and corporations to join together and make a positive impact. We hope you’re feeling inspired to get involved and give back to your local community – whether it’s with your organization, your friends or family, or proactively by yourself.
To learn more about the 9/11 Day organization, click here.
To reach out about an upcoming volunteer event, please contact us via speaktous@kubrickgroup.com
At Kubrick, we help organizations to evolve with next-generation technology with the skills that deliver change and impact. Our unique approach to training talent from a wide range of backgrounds allows us to build a workforce equipped with today’s most sought-after skills at the intersection of data, AI, and cloud.
To learn more about how Kubrick can support your team to create impactful solutions, get in touch: speaktous@kubrickgroup.com.
