Well, the conference was great! Sorry for not updating you immediately about how it went, but I needed to recover!
Eighty-six conference attendees from various nonprofits in southern West Virginia showed up to take classes in the following areas: leadership, grant writing, board training, running successful events, multi-generational communication and much more. On the first day, we hosted a session where participants could meet representatives from foundations and ask what specific funders were looking for in grant applications.
My favorite part of the week was meeting the participants and hearing their stories. One night at dinner, I got to sit with a group of women who all were running nonprofits focused on serving children. Their stories tugged at my heart, and made me thankful for people willing to do the work they immerse themselves in each day.
One conference participant said her 8-year-old daughter told her, “I want a ministry too.”  The girl said this after watching her parents serve other people in their nonprofit, and felt the need to be a servant as well. This 8-year-old has since started a “Boxes of Love” service project. These boxes contain basic toiletries and snacks; and the boxes are always kept in the trunk of her parents ' car. When she sees a person in need, she gives him or her one of the boxes. Her mother beamed as she told me the story about her remarkable little girl.
This little girl didn’t need a 501(c)(3) (official nonprofit status) to serve other people. She saw an opportunity, and she pursued it with all of her heart. Also, she was inspired by her parents' service to others and used it as an example for her own.
How inspiring. I love my service position!
"I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.”
--Lily Tomlin
P.S. I haven't told you about my amazing housemates yet, but that is coming soon!
Catherine Mack is a long-term volunteer in CAP's Community Development program. She lives in Johnson Volunteer House.