They had only eight weeks, but Christian Community Service Center ’s summer interns hit it running, made maximum use of their time, and achieved positive impacts in CCSC’s Emergency Services and Advancement programs.

In Houston, five Bank of America Student Leader interns were chosen, three of whom were placed with CCSC. Annelise Do, Adetoun Taiwo, and Ben Who are all rising high school seniors. Alicia Lyon, a rising sophomore at Tulane University, was CCSC’s ExxonMobil Foundation Community Summer Jobs Program intern.

The Bank of America interns’ roles at CCSC varied: Who researched a new Customer Relationship Management system; Taiwo helped develop a legacy giving program; and Do assessed areas for expansion. As different as their projects were, all their work made a tangible impact on CCSC’s mission.

“Each project that our interns worked on will help the organization move forward and better deliver services to families in need in our community,” Chief Advancement Officer Lauren Niemeyer said.

The interns all agreed that the work they did this summer felt different from volunteer work.

“This work was paid, so there’s a feeling that you’re a part of it since you’re treated more like an employee,” Advancement Projects Intern Ben Who said. “CCSC and their staff have done a great job of making us feel like a part of the family.”

Advancement-Marketing Intern Adetoun Taiwo agreed. “At other places that I’ve volunteered, it was just like we were helping or doing something extra. But here, we’re contributing to the mission directly,” Taiwo said.

Operations Intern Annelise Do added, “It’s very eye-opening to learn more about the process behind all the work that CCSC does. There’s a lot that goes into it that not everyone recognizes.”

ExxonMobil Foundation CSJP Intern Alicia Lyon, a former CCSC volunteer, echoed the feeling that this summer gave the interns a real-life look at working for a nonprofit.

“I worked the phones, completed interviews, and worked the front desk. It was a great experience,” Lyon said.

“Alicia’s daily tasks mirrored the assistant manager’s,” Emergency Services-Central Manager Lydia Bias said. “She was a great asset.”