Volunteer of the month

Anita Gourab

Announcing our newest volunteer of the month for November, Anita! Congratulations and thank you for volunteering in our library. Here is what she has to say about her experience:

Volunteering with minibiblioPLUS has been an incredibly rewarding experience. While my role is behind the scenes in the library, I enjoy knowing that the work I do contributes to children having access to stories that can inspire and educate them. Over time, I’ve realized just how important it is to nurture a love of reading at an early age. While today’s world is so centered on screens, minibiblioPLUS reminds children of the beauty and joy of physical books. Being part of this program has shown me how important small contributions can be in supporting a larger mission. I’m proud to be part of an organization that is dedicated to fostering literacy and making a positive impact in the community.

Mily Flores

We are delighted to announce our volunteer of the month for September- Mily Flores. Mily has been volunteering with us since early 2024 to deliver books for our partners’ minibiblios around the city. Her dedication to our mission shines through. Thanks Mily! Here is what she has to say about her experience:

“Volunteering at minibiblioPLUS has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. It has allowed me to fulfill my dream of spreading my love for reading by delivering books to daycares throughout Montreal. I strive to encourage or motivate others to continue learning, regardless of age. Seeing the children’s excitement when they see me arrive with a new bag of books fills my heart with joy and appreciation for them, their parents, and the daycares. I am extremely grateful to minibiblioPLUS for allowing me to reconnect with my younger self in ways I would have never dreamt of. Thank you minibiblioPLUS for welcoming me into such a caring and supportive community and showing me the significance of involvement in our future children’s lives. I hope my passion for books empowers children and helps them find their people, just as I did!”

Nina Peritz

👏🤩 Congratulations to our latest volunteer of the month for August, Nina Peritz! As an experienced teacher, Nina is equally a  wonderful volunteer reader who brings such magic and wonder to her readings. Here is what she has to say about her experience:

I enjoy volunteering at minibiblioPLUS because I strongly believe in the value of community involvement. Books, learning and language have always played an important part in my life. Each time I leave one of my Story Time animations, I feel grateful that I have turned something I love and care about into a rewarding volunteer opportunity. 

 Intergenerational relationships are essential as they offer a way to connect and enhance the lives of one another. I have learned that sharing my passion for reading with small children is a natural fit. I am not only making a difference in their ongoing learning development but at the same time meeting other educators and building relationships with people of all ages.

 minibiblioPLUS is a great organization full of kind, dedicated individuals. Through them, I have found a fun, meaningful way to contribute and socialize.  Each week, I am delighted by the enthusiasm and wonder of the children who listen to my stories, and they in turn benefit from the warmth and wisdom I offer them. Thanks to the hugs and smiles I see every week at Playskool, I have found a sense of fulfillment that comes with the joy of giving back.

Jennifer Lapointe

 We are delighted to announce our volunteer of the month for July 2024- Jennifer Lapointe, a spectacular storytime animator since 2022. Jennifer is such a playful and vibrant volunteer reader. Here is what she has to say about her experience:

“minibiblioPLUS has given so many children the gift of adventure, joy, knowledge, faraway places, understanding emotions, nature, animals, facts, fiction and imagination through storytime reading. It will instill in them the motivation to read to their children and hand it down generation after generation. What a gift!

I have also noticed that children that used to be shy and not interact with responses at storytime have now blossomed and feel so comfortable that they have a place to shine too and there are so many shining kids at once they can make a sunny warm day in the middle of winter.“

Guillaume Nyssens

 Announcing our newest volunteer of the month for June, Guillaume Nyssens. Congratulations and thank you for volunteering with us as a storytime animator. Here is what Guillaume has to say about his experience:

“What if the purpose of life was to serve? With a change of environment, I wanted to get involved locally. It was with this in mind that I answered the call from minibiblioPLUS, to share the love of books with children. I’ve always loved to read, and the idea of sharing this passion with others immediately appealed to me. After training, I joined a wonderful team, dedicated to awakening toddlers to young readers.

At a time when screens are taking on an ever-increasing role, it’s essential to remember that books are still a wonderful way of sharing unique moments. Each session is a bubble of joy and discovery. The impact on children is hard to measure, but some create precious bonds, others take longer. For me, above all, it’s an opportunity to be there for them, to pass on values and dreams through stories. Seeing their eyes shine when they listen to a book is the greatest reward of all. Especially when you’re supported by a great team of people who are so supportive!”

Isabel Shaw

 We are delighted to announce our volunteer of the month for May 2024- Isabel Shaw who has been volunteering in our library. Here is what she has to say about her experience:

“Each time I process a new book, I put myself in a child’s shoes and try to imagine what parts of this story would capture my imagination. Would it be funny? Would a storytime animator be able to show off the pictures? Would a five-year-old recognize this character? Working from the library, I get to see all the books flowing in and out to reach kids in the community. Beyond the fun challenges of cataloguing new books, I am just happy to be involved. This unique library offers so much to children with storytime, both local and virtual, and the free lending programs to partners. One of my favorite parts is seeing the stories and characters I knew as a child going out and coming back with new creases on their pages.”

Announcing our newest volunteer of the month for April, Alexander Slack. Congratulations and thank you for volunteering with us as a storytime animator. Here is what Alex has to say about his experience:

“Volunteering with minibiblioPLUS has been incredibly enriching and fun! I think both the kids and I were a little nervous at the beginning, but now they greet me with bright smiles and excitement over the new books I bring to each storytime. Spreading the love of reading and supporting literacy is deeply important to me, so I am grateful that minibiblioPLUS facilitates this opportunity. Not only that, but the team goes above and beyond in support! It is a joy to be able to contribute a little bit of my time to make a difference, inspire children to engage with books, and make connections within my community.”

Ursula Voss

We are delighted to announce our volunteer of the month for February 2024- Ursula Voss who has been volunteering with us since September 2023! The children absolutely adore her weekly storytime animations! Here is what she has to say about her volunteer experience:

“The best parts of reading to children are when I have their attention and I see their little faces looking up at the pictures, fully engaged in the story, and waiting to hear what happens next. When the story is over, they reach out wanting to hold the book, carefully turn the pages, and go over the pictures again. I cannot overstate the importance of books and literature in all our lives, and I am thrilled to be able to promote literacy, even in a small way. minibiblioPLUS is a very important institution and must be supported!”