Hi everyone!

My name is Kat Jolley and I’m a rising senior at Indiana University studying marketing and international business. This summer, I have the privilege of serving as a Marketing Intern at LifeCare Alliance through a placement with The Columbus Foundation’s Summer Fellowship Program. LifeCare Alliance has always been close to my heart, I’ve been volunteering through their Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) program since I was five years old. This week marked a full-circle moment: I’ve gone from helping deliver meals with my family to now contributing behind the scenes to improve client and volunteer experiences through strategic marketing and development efforts.

My first day began with a staff meeting where I was introduced to the Advancement team, which includes four subteams: Grants & Strategic Planning, Marketing, Community Engagement, and Development. These are the people driving LifeCare Alliance’s growth and impact forward, and I’m excited to collaborate with them throughout the summer.

Much of this week was devoted to gaining a comprehensive understanding of the organization. I explored onboarding materials, read through LifeCare Alliance’s history, and reviewed their wide range of services, from cancer support and diabetes management to pet care, home modifications, and of course, meal delivery. Learning about the organization’s evolution and ambitions for the future gave me critical context for the main project I’ll be contributing to: a customer journey initiative centered on the Meals-on-Wheels program.

My internship centers on improving the client and volunteer experience through the customer journey initiative. Early in the week, I met with key team members, Molly (VP of Operations), Andrea (my supervisor and Director of Grants & Strategic Planning), Leah (Nutrition Operations), and Claire (Volunteer Services), to understand the goals of the initiative and my role in the process. Reviewing transcripts of their past interviews and examining the customer journey framework used for another program, Help-at-Home, gave me a head start.

I’ll be independently interviewing 13 staff members to help map the client and volunteer experience and identify areas for improvement. I’ve also begun analyzing insights collected in Mural (our collaborative digital workspace) and familiarizing myself with marketing materials, such as the LifeCare Alliance style guide, which shapes the organization’s brand voice and messaging.

This week wasn’t all desk work! I had the opportunity to tour our Harmon Avenue facility, where our kitchen and a second office are located. While there, I attended the annual Senior Prom, an event celebrating our senior clients and bringing community joy in tangible ways. I also joined in on a partner meeting with Ohio Health to observe how LCA fosters external relationships for client support and referral growth.

In addition, I began my one-on-one meetings with members of the Advancement team. These conversations were incredibly insightful, not just for learning how the departments function, but also for gathering creative ideas and pain points related to internal communication and workflow.

From a marketing perspective, I gained insights into how LCA communicates its mission across platforms. I learned about the organization’s 3 C’s, Culture, Clients, and Continuity, which anchor their five-year strategic plan and guide how LCA seeks to grow sustainably. I also discussed with David (Client & Community Engagement Liaison) the importance of storytelling, particularly the use of impact stories from clients, as a way to build emotional connection and promote services.

This week, I focused on absorbing as much information as possible to prepare for the meaningful work ahead. I’m incredibly grateful to be in a space that not only values impact, but also encourages interns like me to think critically and creatively. I’m Excited to begin the customer journey initiative and help shape the future of LCA’s client and volunteer experience.

More to come in Week 2!