Dave Burnet is no stranger to long days and sleepless nights.
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The Yellow Van director recently worked 40 days straight through Floriade, collecting food to distribute to charities and refuges throughout the capital, not even stopping to celebrate his birthday.
"It's a very big responsibility," he said.
"I've had some sleepless nights, a lot of them when there was only $1800 in the bank and not enough food."
Mr Burnet joined the organisation in 2008, leaving behind a 20 year career in the media to work with the team which was struggling to get by on a handful of food donors.
He said it was hard work, but the progress over the past four years has been astounding.
"Back then we'd get 45 kilograms in a day and I'd think it wouldn't work," he said.
"I'd freak out about it and have charities calling me, asking for more help. Now we get 4500, 5000 kilograms a week."
And it seems Mr Burnet's hard work has touched more than just recipients, with his colleagues nominating him as the first "Community Hero" through the Change Reaction campaign launched yesterday.
Facilitated by Independent Property Group, the social media campaign is calling on the Canberra community to nominate a hardworking individual from their local charity, club or school.
The winning candidate, chosen both for their work and their level of support from social media users, will help decide which local charity receives a $20,000 donation from the property agency.
While his colleagues at Communities at Work described him as "extremely passionate and dedicated", Mr Burnet insisted Yellow Van's success was a team effort.
"I just feel like the captain of the ship really, and I have this fantastic crew," he said.
"Without them, it wouldn't happen."
The Change Reaction campaign will run for four weeks, with locals invited to post nominations on the Independent Property Group's Facebook page.
Sales and marketing director John Minns said the campaign was designed to not only get locals involved in their fundraising efforts, but also acknowledge the hard work of Canberra's quiet achievers.
"There are a lot of people out there not getting recognition," he said.
"We just wanted to start a conversation and get some recognition for these people."