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 issued a challenge to 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 Your Success is My Success 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. Virtual Assistants who would like to issue their own press release may use the template provided by the VACOC.

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