When I started my virtual assistant business eight months ago, one of the target markets I wanted to work
with was nonprofits.
I sat on the boards of two nonprofits and chaired one for a few years and know firsthand all the amazing work that they do and how valuable they are to the communities they serve. They have always been close to my heart and it is my dream to eventually work with nonprofits exclusively in my business.
I landed my first nonprofit client a couple weeks ago and it is a wonderful organization called The C.H.A.I.N. Fund, which provides cancer patients in Connecticut and North Carolina with financial assistance to pay their essential bills. The organization raises money by holding benefit events and has a Giving Club where donations can be made on a year round basis; their latest event was a mystery dinner gala on Sunday. Now having volunteered with nonprofits in the past, I know how much work is involved in putting events together and working to get things done in the community, but I have never worked as hard or had as much fun as I did volunteering at the dinner!
I was part of the kitchen crew and I was the dishwasher, floor sweeper, prep station cleaner, and helped get the desserts ready for the waitstaff to serve. I was there from 9:15 am to 7:50 pm and by the time I was done, my back and feet were killing me, and if I never see another pot, tray, or pan again it will be too soon.
I also met some amazing, funny, hardworking people who came together to work their butts off for free for a cause they believed in and had a great time doing it! There was singing, dancing, joke telling, and new friendships being made; I told the C.H.A.I.N. Fund's founder, Kelly Turner-Cole, that she had a new permanent volunteer in me and I would be willing to help whenever I can.
When you are doing something you love or that is close to your heart, even if it is a lot of work, it doesn't feel that way because you are getting so much joy from it.Volunteering for me makes me feel like I'm making a difference and the help is always appreciated by both the organization providing it and the people receiving it.
Nonprofits are an amazing, necessary part of our lives and I am proud to be able to work with them, both professionally and personally; it is the hardest, most enjoyable work that I will ever do!
