Friday, January 30, 1998

Community's nonprofits put wares on show

Many Abilenians would probably be surprised at the extent and variety of the nonprofit organizations that operate in our community. Visitors to the Mall of Abilene on Saturday will have the chance to see for themselves.

That's when the Fifth Annual Nonprofit Showcase takes place, sponsored by the Nonprofit Resource Center, a program of the Community Foundation of Abilene. During regular business hours (10 a.m.-9 p.m.), as many as 50 of the city's nonprofit groups will set up tables to market their message, recruit new volunteers, reach potential donors, increase their name recognition and reach out to potential new clients.

Even Abilenians who don't think they have any need or use for a nonprofit organization might be intrigued, perhaps even educated, by learning about the variety of groups. Nearly everyone is familiar with the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, the Taylor County Adult Literacy Council, the Better Business Bureau, the Day Nursery of Abilene. But did you know there is an Abilene Bicycling Club? A Vogel Tenants Association? A Parents Anonymous? A Disability Network? And what is the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.?

Booths will offer information on the arts in Abilene and on services for children, the elderly, the homeless, the abused, the infirm and the civic-minded.

Those who work in nonprofit capacities always enjoy the opportunity to make direct contact with members of the community and to learn more about each other and how to better work together. You might even find an organization that needs exactly what you have to offer in order to make Abilene a better place to live.