Barb Small - 50 Stories for 50 Years (Story # 27)
Barb Small started volunteering with Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House’s Family Literacy in 2017. A friend recommended the program, and literacy coordinator Morie Ford matched her with a young woman from Mexico.
“I liked Morie immediately. She was friendly, warm, and enthusiastic about the learners in her program.”
Despite having taught ESL to adults for over 10 years, Barb was nervous driving to her first learner’s home.
Once she arrived, the two sat down for the usual ‘get to know you’ questions.
“I learned a bit about her, and she learned about me.”
After working together for an hour, the young mother got up to give her 18-month-old a snack, speaking to the child in Spanish. Watching them, Barb mentioned that her own son spoke Spanish.
The woman looked up at Barb and asked, “Why?”
Barb explained that he’d gone to school in Chile for a year.
“David? Food Stash?”
Barb was taken aback. Yes, that was her David.
David had been dropping off boxes of food at the woman’s home through the Food Stash Rescued Food Box program and occasionally stopped in to chat in Spanish.
Barb’s first experience volunteering at MPNH went extremely well.
“I have met many wonderful women who have worked hard to learn English as they navigate living in a new country. It gives me great satisfaction and pleasure to help them on their journey. I look forward to being matched with another newcomer family soon ... who knows what I am going to learn from them this time!”
Story edited by Signy Marcyniuk in collaboration with the long-time FLO volunteer.
50 Stories for 50 Years at MPNH is a collection of meaningful stories that celebrate the lasting impact our Neighbourhood House has had over the years. These stories come from long-time participants, families, youth, volunteers, community members, and regular visitors whose lives have been touched, supported, or transformed through our programs, services, and connections at the House.
