Having been back in Canada for the past year and going through the nuances of everyday life, I’m left reminiscing about stinky tofu at Tonghua night market, my favourite chicken restaurant, loud temple noises, and biking down the bustling streets of Taipei.

Most of all, I often find myself reflecting on my SALT Collectiv community.

It’s funny to think back on that time when I met two hoodlums from San Francisco at the very first soup kitchen that I volunteered at.

At the time, I didn’t realise what God had put into my life: a community of friends who made me feel like I belonged and was valued. These are the same people who I spent hours with — sorting #givingtreetw gifts, hiking the tallest mountain in Taiwan, and celebrating each others’ milestones.

As a single expat living in a foreign place with no family or relatives, I realised that the feelings of loneliness were inevitable. However, the SALT Collectiv community offered me a place of refuge, and the relationships I’ve developed in this community impacted me more than the place itself.

My belief is that the special “seasoning” — which has led to the SALT Collectiv’s success and is special compared to any other non-profits I’ve been involved with — is the strong network of people.

The heart of any organization is to find like-minded people who are passionate about the vision and goal.

When Drew and James (Co-founder 1 and Co-founder 2) approached me with the idea of signing onto the team to help manage social media and fundraising, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. But isn’t that the wonderful thing about life sometimes? I was sold on the vision they had —wanting SALT Collectiv to be something bigger than themselves by giving back to the community in serving the marginalized.

Once I joined the team, I hit the ground running.

Our very first fundraising event was the bake sale at OohChaCha. We managed to arrange for several vegan bakeries to donate baked goodies on a Saturday morning. On that beautiful day, we had friends come to support us, while even my elementary school students showed up to help the sale and performed on the street.

The momentum kept building — and we started Trivia Nights that involved Aye Taipei and collaborated with Red Point Brewery, who donated beer. We wanted to bring fun, a little competition, and an opportunity to connect outside of the volunteer setting (which generated $30,000 through beer sales, raffle tickets, and donations).

Part of our event fundraising goal was to connect small businesses to our networks, which naturally created mutually beneficial relationships.

For example, my friend Amanda, who owns Little Graze Garden, a decadent treat box company, expressed that she wanted to get involved with the SALT Collectiv by contributing her yummy charcuterie boxes as prizes for our Trivia Event. After getting some great promo at the event and connecting with other small business owners, like our friends at Empress Hot Sauce, she came back to volunteer at our beach cleanups.

That’s the cool thing about the SALT Collectiv.

It all starts with a small step that can leave a big impact — not just in your life but in the lives of others. A strong community is a place of opportunity.

Big or small, a community can provide countless opportunities for growth and experience. With a community of people looking out for your best interests and working together for a common goal, there is no shortage of opportunities for whatever you are looking for — whether it’s volunteering or collaborating your small business with us.

Another big aspect of the SALT Collectiv DNA is being active, with health and wellness aligned with our most recent fundraiser with F45 — popular HIIT workout with three locations in Taipei. SALT brought almost 50 people to #teamsweat and brought in more than $27,000.

Fundraising doesn’t always mean throwing a big event. My two good friends Bertina and Pearl were both so passionate about our cause that they celebrated their birthdays by asking friends to donate to the SALT Collectiv instead of receiving gifts which raised $24,000 NTD. For more collaboration or fundraising ideas, please contact Bertina Hu.

When I started managing our IG page, we only had 300 followers. But in the past year, there was a fourfold increase as the SALT Collectiv community continues to grow, now adding two paid staff and potential corporate sponsors. Of course, this exponential growth is driven by our strong network of passionate people who are working towards the same vision and goal. These are the same people who naturally become influencers to those around them.

The word spreads and the network grows.

Community is crucial to a fulfilling life. As we get older, it can sometimes get harder to connect with the people around us. But, that connection will ultimately ease stress and feelings of loneliness.

With loneliness on the rise and isolation becoming a real by-product of COVID, people are craving community more than ever. I believe building networks and connections doesn’t just involve people, but also time and effort.

Whether you’re in Canada, Taiwan, or anywhere in the world, no place is perfect. Having travelled globally, a place itself doesn’t make it special— it’s the people and the community that truly make a place unforgettable.

That’s how I feel about the SALT Collectiv.

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1.) Where can I volunteer in Taiwan?

SALT Collectiv is a nonprofit headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan that hosts volunteer opportunities to serve the marginalized. Volunteer opportunities include serving the homeless through our SALT soup kitchen, orphanage visitations, elderly care, biannual beach cleanups, and our annual Christmas Giving Tree that gives over 1,000 gifts each year to the marginalized all over Taiwan. We also have fundraiser events such as trivia nights, bake sales, F45 workouts, carwashes, and many more. Our FUNdraiser events bring the fun into building our community. Come checkout our community and join the movement.

2.) Can foreigners volunteer in Taiwan?

Yes! SALT Collectiv is a diverse international community of volunteers uniting for the purpose of making a lasting imprint for the vulnerable and marginalized. There are no prerequisites required to sign up for events and we welcome expats and locals alike to join our community. We ask only that you come with a heart to serve. When individuals come together, dedicating their time and talent to serve the marginalized, lives are touched and communities are transformed. In volunteering, you engage in causes bigger than yourself, cultivate meaningful relationships and positively impact your community.