Journal Entry - Week 15

During the last week of my internship requirements at the Community Food Bank of Citrus County, I began to work on some of the promotional materials that will be used for the “Black Diamond Fundraiser,” held yearly in October. This fundraiser is the largest event held by the Food Bank and raises a considerable amount of support for the organization. Though this event is incredibly successful, it took me a little while to get my head around some of the criteria for those who will be attending.

This fundraiser is not open to the public, rather is it geared for the board members and their personal friends. Each board member is expected to head up a table and to invite ten of their friends. With thirteen board members, the attendance for the event has been around 130-150 for the six years that it has been held. The board would like the attendance to increase to 250 and meetings will be held to work through how this can be done while maintaining the integrity of the event. I am thankful that this event is so successful, though I wish that there were opportunities to put this caliber of energy and planning into a community event that will not only raise money but also awareness.

My internship experience at the Community Food Bank has awarded me invaluable experience in the administration of human services field. I am thankful for the ability to learn from a number of different opportunities, many of which I would not experience outside of this environment. I look forward to being able to introduce some of the concepts that I have learned throughout this season, and I hope to continue to make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need of assistance.