In 2016, the Working In America initiative launched to collect stories from workers across the country to tell us about the challenges and joys of what they do and how they do it.

Join working people across our country who have shared their work experiences by submitting your story at https://working.org/working-stories/

Below are examples of working stories shared by participants—can you relate? What is something about your job that people don't know?

Share your thoughts at https://working.org

Beth Chief Financial Officer at The Global FoodBanking Network

What is one thing about your work that most people don't know?

Numbers can do more than just what they taught you in school. Numbers allow me to be proactive not reactive. Numbers are informative. The numbers tell me if the organization is over or under budget; whether or not it will have enough money to pay the bills today, tomorrow, two months or twelve months from now; on which programs funds are being spent according to their intended purpose, and so much more. The math is only the vehicle by which the answers become apparent. The financial reports that I produce are important to me, the management team, staff, the board of directions, donors and anyone who is interested in our organization. The order of operations is very important when using EXCEL and Algebra is practical. While my title is CFO, working in a small nonprofit organization requires me to wear many hats. I am responsible for for all back office operations, which include human resources, office administration, IT, board meeting planning and almost anything else that is not directly related to raising money or doing programming.

What makes you most proud of the work you do?

On a fundamental level work provides the means to support my family. On a macro level it is a way for me to be a productive member of society and to contribute and give back to the world in which I live. Personally work is exhilarating. It keeps my mind sharp and active and continually challenges me. I am fortunate that I can use my professional skills to ultimately help others.It is important to me that something that helps people in a fundamental way, something that will enable them to become more independent members of society. That is why I am committed to working in the area of hunger relief.

• See more at: https://working.org/story/beth/