Since PROP Shop first opened, Kate Nylander had been volunteering at the nonprofit resale store: The 2006 Eden Prairie High School graduate knew she wanted to return to help out for this summer but, could not do so without funding.

So she paid her own way.

Nylander, who will be a senior at Northwestern University was one of 30 students to receive a $2,000 summer internship grant from the University – chosen out of an initial applicant list of 300. The grant allows students to work at the unpaid internship of their choice. For Nylander, when it comes to giving back, her choice has taken her back to Eden Prairie – on previous summers, she’s interned with PROP and the American Cancer Society.

She’s getting different perspectives of how different nonprofits work, large and small.

“I’m very interested in nonprofit management,” she said.
Her services could not have come at a more pressing time in Eden Prairie. At the PROP Shop, which provides families in need with clothing and household items, staff members have seen an increase in services being used, said Operations Manager Vicki Bomben.

The most marked increase can be seen in the number of families they’ve served this year, compared to last.

PROP Shop, which opened in 2007, functions as a resale store. Anyone can walk in and purchase clothes, books, shoes and furniture. Any proceeds benefit PROP, the area food shelf. Families referred to PROP Shop from other social service organizations can access needed household items for free. PROP Shop allows families to visit their client room once a month:

“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of new families each month and PROP is apparently seeing two new families each day that they’re open,” noted Bomben, in an e-mail.

In June of 2008 at the PROP Shop, for instance, 58 families visited the client room, while this June 108 families visited.

“It’s just a really tough economic time right now for a lot of families and so I think there is just such a great need in our community,” said Nylander.

At the PROP Shop, Nylander’s duties vary, depending on the day. She may need to work the register or sort merchandise, or tackle some projects such as finishing the volunteer handbook. Nylander said the work varies between project-based work and just what needs to be done for the day.

In addition to working at PROP Shop, Nylander also has another part-time job as a receptionist. At Northwestern, she is majoring in English and international studies with a minor in religion.
She expects to stay in Chicago when she graduates.

Though not certain she’ll end up in nonprofits right away, “I know that’s where I’d like to end up.”

When asked if there’s anxiety about the job market amongst her peers, she said there’s definitely some.

Nylander said she has a lot of friends who have graduated and most have found jobs, but “a couple of them still haven’t.”

There were some tense months when people weren’t quite sure what was going to work out, she added.

Nylander exudes a positive and proactive attitude about what many could consider an intimidating economy for new graduates.

Nylander noted it’s always helpful to be able to get an internship, but “whatever you do can be a really good experience.”

If you work retail, “You learn a lot of people skills.”

If you work as a nanny, “You’re still learning a lot of about leadership and about dealing with people.”

“I think it’s just all about making the most of whatever situation you end up in and being able to turn that into a valuable
experience that will help you out in later jobs.”