Elevate with Purpose 314-Beth Ann Riechman

So what is something you wish n- more people knew about the nonprofit community here?

Oh, that is a great question, too.

So I feel like a lot of people say to me, "Well, I don't have any skills." And I look at them, and I say that, "Well, no.

That doesn't sound right.

Everybody has skills.

Everybody has different skills to bring to the table." Feel like when you're looking at skills, somebody will say, "Well, like I have a hobby.

I'm great at woodworking," for example.

Ok- you could make toys for the kids at Crisis Nursery and the different locations.

You could work with, uh, the Boy Scouts doing the derby, right? And helping build a car.

I mean, you could teach kids how to pitch a tent in Girls and Boy Scouts.

I mean, there's, like a whole list of things.

So you look at all your skills.

You look at all your hobbies.

If you're a great gardener, you can do anything from teaching kids how to garden and how to grow their own vegetables and fruits and different things.

From schools, you can do programs with Missouri Botanical Garden, with Forest Park Forever, to- Actually, like hosting events.

And so you just have to think where your skillset is, or maybe what you would like to try, because I think there's a lot of nonprofits here who are very willing to try different things.

Definitely.

Do you think you have to give a lot of money to make a meaningful difference?

Never.

Never.

I have to tell you, there's a lot of people who think it costs a lot of money to volunteer, and it doesn't.

Yes, if it's a passion project for you and you wanna contribute the money, that's great, and I'm like, yay, all for you.

But at the same time, you can volunteer five days a week, and it doesn't cost you except for gas to get there.

Just because it's a passion project even that you have to, that's the nonprofit's responsibility.

You might help them fundraise.