Hello readers, I’m new to this blog! My name is Catherine Mack, and I’ve been a volunteer in the Community Development department at CAP since September 2009, and will be here until September 2011. I’m from Boca Raton, Florida, which means in January I’ll probably write at least one post about the cold weather in eastern Kentucky. Even though I get a little chilly from time to time, I love the people and mission at Christian Appalachian Project.

Community Development is a little different from the other programs you’re used to hearing about on this blog. We serve the people of Appalachia through strengthening other nonprofit organizations and equipping them to help people more efficiently. CAP considers these organizations to be partners in its mission; and by strengthening other organizations, we all serve more people. Organizations gather together to participate in trainings, and trade stories about successes and struggles in the nonprofit world. These organizations are referred to as CAP’s Nonprofit Alliance.

Right now, our department has been preparing for a nonprofit conference at the end of this month in West Virginia. I’ve never been on the preparation side of a conference before, and there are so many details to be worked out! Marilynn, my supervisor, is a seasoned professional at these things, and she is teaching me the ropes.

I know I’m in for an unforgettable experience at this conference. Dozens of nonprofits from the West Virginia region will be there, and along with that comes a lifetime of stories and experiences helping people in Appalachia. These are the people who have been in the trenches day after day, year after year, for one common purpose: bringing hope to those who need it most.

This is just one example of the enormous rewards volunteers receive. It reminds me of a quote I heard once by Jobail Barcelona, “Discover why some of the richest people in the world are not millionaires, they are volunteers.”

As I share my experiences through the next year, I hope to show you how rich I have become through volunteering. Let the adventure begin!

Catherine Mack is a long-term volunteer in Community Development. She lives in Johnson Volunteer House.