Virtual
Assistant Association Challenges Virtual Assistants Worldwide to
Donate to Local Food Banks
Virtual
Assistant industry rises to the occasion to help community food
banks meet record number of families and others needing assistance
this holiday season.
Community
food banks around the country are in dire need. With rising food
prices and companies continuing to lay employees off in the
declining economy, many local agencies are reporting a nearly 50%
increase in demand from families needing assistance. Many of these
agencies have bare pantry shelves or are otherwise not prepared to
assist what many expect to be record numbers this year.
Enter
the Virtual Assistant community. In view of the rising need and
coming holidays, the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce has
challenged Virtual Assistants worldwide to mobilize as an industry
to do what they do best—helping others—by donating a
minimum of $10 or more to their local food banks and charitable
organizations this holiday season. This global industry of
self-employed administrative support specialists is rising to the
occasion.
"$10
is so easy to afford," says founder Danielle Keister. "No
matter how small you may think a contribution is, every little bit
makes a real difference."
Keister's
household sponsors a family each year and donates food and grocery
store gift certificates to their preferred community agency. "I
like to donate gift certificates so that people can get the foods
they like," says Keister.
Cassandra
Cooper of The Time Miner reminds folks that that community service
agencies are also always in need of toiletries such as bar soap,
toilet paper and travel shampoos. "Those things can't be
purchased with food stamps," explains Cooper.
Christine
Wade of eRealtyAssistance.com in Vista, California, recommends that
Virtual Assistants and others wishing to help visit the Feeding
America (formerly Second Harvest) website at www.feedingamerica.org.
"There is a food bank locator in the bottom right-hand corner
where you can enter your zip code and find out where to deliver
food," points out Wade.
Wade
donates food and toiletry items through her children's Christian
school every year, as well as bags of food at an annual ornament
party she attends, which are then delivered to a local charity.
Victoria
Miles is a Virtual Assistant in Argentina and owner of
TheBilingualVA.com. "I love the idea of 'think global, act
local' that the VACOC promotes. I will be definitely embracing the
initiative locally, and hopefully engaging many others to do so as
well."
Dinah
Cline, owner of Dinah's Virtual Assistance in Naples, Florida,
suggests Angel Food Ministries at www.angelfoodministries.com, a
non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing
grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the
United States.
"Angel
Food Ministries donates $1 to every host site's benevolence fund for
every Angel Food Box distributed. We are all here to help one
another, whether it's professionally or personally; being a part of
the VACOC community provides this opportunity in both aspects. I
feel not only blessed but honored to be a part of them both,"
says Cline.
To
see what the VACOC community of Virtual Assistants is doing and get
more links and ideas about how you can help, visit their Facebook
group at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=22876770984
ABOUT
THE VACOC: The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce is a
professional association committed to empowering business-minded
Virtual Assistants to grow smarter, more successful practices, and
providing business owners with free tools and resources to connect
with qualified, reputable Virtual Assistant professionals. Anyone
interested in learning more about Virtual Assistance and its
professional providers is encouraged to visit the VACOC at
http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com
ABOUT eRealty Network, LLC: Real Estate Virtual Assistant, many certifications, in business since
2008, over 18 years of administrative experience, licensed agent in
California, specializing in value based services, long term... Sign up to receive my blog via email!
