Let’s hear it for Linda, a dedicated volunteer who has been with us for 8+ years! We’re so grateful that Linda is a part of our team, and we’re excited to highlight her as our December Volunteer of the Month.
Please continue reading below to learn more about Linda’s experience with Inspiration Corporation:
How did you hear about Inspiration Corporation?
Many years ago, a colleague from work asked me to go to lunch at Inspiration. When I stopped working, I began volunteering and have been serving on most Tuesday mornings for about 8 years now.
What is the most enjoyable part of volunteering for you?
Similar to most volunteers, I have kept coming back all these years because I enjoy meeting and getting to know our participants and sharing similar experiences with them.
What is your volunteer background?
I volunteered throughout my four children’s school years. Since I stopped working, I volunteer regularly at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, my grandchildren’s CPS schools, Open House Chicago, the Chicago Humanities Festival.
Describe one of the most interesting experiences you’ve had as a volunteer.
For several of my volunteering years, when the cafe had more participants, I would try to bake coffee cakes or cakes or cookies for our participants. I found that homemade peanut butter cookies were universally popular and constantly requested. The interesting thing is that the participants would all tell me how their mothers or grandmothers would make the cookies and advise me to bake them their way. I always enjoy sharing these cooking tips and realizing how happy these baking memories make all of us.
What are your hobbies, besides volunteering?
I love to swim and have been swimming five days a week for almost 35 years!