Where Service Began: Helping a Nonprofit Prepare for the Unexpected
This summer, I had the meaningful opportunity to go full circle and work with the very first nonprofit organization I volunteered with as a child. Walking back into a place that shaped some of my earliest memories of service was a surreal and deeply rewarding experience. I was able to meet the new director, reconnect with individuals I had known when I was younger, and see how the organization has continued to grow while still holding onto the same heart for the community. It was so much fun, and incredibly special, to help develop emergency action plans for them, walk through drills with the staff and volunteers, and conduct a tabletop exercise with the leadership team.
For each facility we work with, we follow a thoughtful and consistent process. We begin by coming in to complete an initial assessment of the locations, the building layout, and the everyday operations that make each space unique. From there, we review the current emergency action plans, paying close attention to what is already working well and where additional clarity or structure could be helpful. We take detailed notes based on the needs of the specific facility, because every organization has its own people, challenges, routines, and priorities. Finally, we sit down with leadership and ask the important questions needed to uncover any unknowns, close gaps, and identify the fundamental needs that should be addressed before moving forward.
From there, I prepared the drills with the goal of making them practical, realistic, and easy for everyone involved to understand. I wanted to ensure that staff and volunteers know exactly what was expected of them, why each step mattered, and how their individual roles contributed to the overall safety of the facility. That meant outlining the best way to execute each drill, creating space for questions before we began, observing how the team responded in real time, and then evaluating the results strategically. The purpose was not simply to check a box, but to help everyone feel more confident, prepared, and capable if a real emergency were ever to happen.
After the drills, leadership then takes on the tabletop exercise. Using all of the information gathered during the assessments and drills, we sit down together and work through different incident scenarios one by one. As each situation unfolds, new factors are introduced, circumstances change, and the group has to talk through what decisions they would make, who would be responsible for specific actions, and how communication would flow during the event. These conversations are incredibly valuable because they help reveal assumptions, highlight missed details, and give the leadership team a chance to practice problem-solving before they are ever in a real crisis. It is a space to learn, adjust, and strengthen the plan together.
Doing this work at a place so dear to my heart reminded me why this process matters so much. In many ways, it was the same as working with organizations I have never partnered with before: the goal is always to make sure they are cared for, supported, and prepared so they can continue doing what they do best. But this time, there was an added layer of personal meaning because I knew firsthand the impact this organization has on the people it serves. Helping them become more prepared means helping them continue loving their community, taking care of one another, and building resilience day by day. That is the reason we started this work, and with every organization we serve, that purpose rings even more true.
