I remember scrolling through my laptop for internships as summer was ending, and the new school year was about to start. I still couldn’t find anything. This made me feel discouraged, like a window of opportunity was closing since not many internships were available at the time.

Then, one day, I saw a post from Harvesters that they were looking for a communications intern. It caught my attention because I grew up with Harvesters’ help.

I still remember in elementary school when my siblings and I received BackSnacks, which provided snacks to help us over the weekend. One of our favorite snacks was the fruity twists in berry or strawberry. So, I gave it a shot—I applied, and I got the internship!

It felt like a full-circle moment. Growing up, I benefited from Harvesters’ support and now I had the chance to give back to an organization that had such a positive impact on my life. I was excited to use my skills to help others who might be in similar positions, providing hope and resources to those in need.

Over the past few months, I’ve learned so much about nonprofit communications, built valuable professional skills, and gained a deeper understanding of the importance of addressing food insecurity in our community.

I was excited about the chance to use my background in strategic communication and graphic design in a real-world setting. Every project allowed me to blend creativity with purpose. It was rewarding to see how my work directly supported Harvesters’ mission of feeding families and seniors while bringing comfort and hope.

One of the highlights of my internship was working on the Chiefs Kingdom Food Drive. I attended the event to take photos for social media. Meeting Creed Humphrey, a professional football player, and participants from other organizations who came together to box up holiday food items for families in need was truly memorable.

My time at Harvesters has been great, and I’ve been grateful to meet many wonderful people who truly love their jobs and enjoy what they’re doing. Their passion is contagious. I’ve gained valuable knowledge about working together toward the same mission and learned to adapt quickly to new challenges and step outside my comfort zone through various projects.

As I reflect on this journey, I’m proud of how much I’ve grown both professionally and personally. I’m excited to take these experiences and lessons into the next chapter of my career. I am grateful for the opportunity to have interned here and hope the next intern will have a positive and enriching experience.

To anyone considering an internship at Harvesters, I cannot recommend it enough. It’s an opportunity to do meaningful work, develop your skills, and be part of an organization that is genuinely committed to making a difference.

Thank you, Harvesters, for an unforgettable experience!

To apply for our spring internship, send a cover letter, resume, and writing samples to chowe@harvesters.org.