What do you think of when you hear the word "nonprofit?" A company that works for the greater good? A company that doesn’t get a lot of funding? Well, according to Merriam-Webster, a nonprofit is, “not conducted or maintained for the purpose of making a profit.”
What do I think when I hear the word "nonprofit?" I think of family. I think of a bunch of people that I spend a few months with and those few months will stay with me forever. I think of a love for the community that goes way beyond anyone I’ve ever met before. I’ve been working with a nonprofit this entire summer, and I can say without a doubt that it is one of the best experiences in my entire life. Why? Well, I’m so glad you asked!
A nonprofit, especially a smaller one, is always in need of volunteers and is SO appreciative of every single one. They recognize how much of your time that you didn’t have to give them but you did. Whether it’s with one afternoon to a few months, they will constantly tell you how much they appreciate what you’re doing for them. And in the end, you’ll probably want to help them more in the future.
They care about you for who you really are, not just what you can give them. Yes, what you can do for them is important, but they get to know you more than another company would. I worked with Atlanta-based nonprofit re:imagine/ATL, and they say that if you are involved in one of their programs, then you are part of the re:imagine family. I can’t think of anything more true. These people that I worked with, they’re my family. They know about me and the things I love, just like my real, biological family does. I’ve grown attached to them throughout the summer, and I can’t imagine a better place to have worked.
This group, they go beyond what I could have hoped when I started working for them. I know that I have found another support system out there. And I know without a doubt, that I will stay in contact with all of these wonderful people for many years to come. They are the best, and I couldn’t imagine my summer without them. So thank you, re:imagine/ATL, for making this shy little girl into a confident communicator. And I promise you will be seeing me quite a lot in the future.
