Today was a day that made me feel as though I’ve come complete in a circle in my life.  For those of you who don’t know, three years ago I took a job working for a politician as a Campaign Manager.  We ran a hard fought campaign, but lost in a tight primary.

We didn’t only lose an election that Tuesday night though, I lost a job.  The prospect of being a legislative assistant in Annapolis.  The prospect of being employed for the next 2 months.  The prospect of even having a job in Maryland Politics until January.  It’s safe to say that it was partially a life changing moment for me.  I wanted to make change and help people, but I knew politics was not the right venue for me to do it.

I began exploring the non-profit sector and I found a job at an organization called Shepherd’s Table.  I began as volunteer manager.  My job was to do community organizing, reaching out to new volunteer groups, new in kind donors and coordinating past volunteers (something all CK’s understand).  I was soon promoted so I was overseeing development and volunteer management.  We saw substiantial expansions in our donors and our voluneers.  And while the work was fulfilling, my desire to change more lives and help others continued to drive me.

I found CKP.  A job downtown in DC.  Far away from home, but exciting.  A chance to bring change across the country.  Changing students lives, changing clients lives and changing my life all in the process.

Alas, what does this have to do with a full circle.  Today I moved into a new apartment.  I moved to be closer to my job.  But my internet connection was not connected yet.  So I walked out of my apartment, across the street to a Starbucks.  Somewhere I knew I could get a cup of coffee and internet so I could post on our blog today.

But I didn’t walk into any Starbucks.  I walked into one that had a volunteer from Shepherd’s Table walking in at the same time.  Mike, someone none of you will probalby ever meet, picks up Mon., Tues., and Thurs. from 4 different locations around the Silver Spring area including Olive Garden, KFC and Giant.  I sat down with Mike and Sherri the manager and we had a 10 min. conversation about Shepherd’s Table, what Starbucks donates, and the relationship that picking up from this Starbucks has led to donations from all the area Starbucks.  It has led to silent auction gifts, sponsorships, support from the entire district and even better friendships.

I told both Mike and Sherri how great it was to see the relationship between the business and the non-profit was going so strong.  And they both thanked me, because I connected them in the first few months I was at Shepherd’s Table.

This all reminds me that we live in such a small world.  And that the actions that each of you take every day helping those in need in your community, however small they may seem like at the time really are making a difference.  Today I blog from a business that supports their community, and I blog in the hope that each of you are making the same impact in your commuties every day.

Post to Twitter