Meet the Northwest Foodbank Pantry Team

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gail and Darlene volunteered to help distribute Children’s Hunger Alliance meal kits. When this project transitioned to the partnership with The Foodbank, they didn’t miss a beat! They continued to show up for all the heavy lifting, bagging, and distributing food to Library patrons.

Darlene began volunteering in 2004 when opportunities were coordinated through the Friends of the Library organization. Eventually, she was hired and worked as a substitute employee in Public Services at DML for fifteen years. In 2020, Darlene switched back to Volunteer Services and has helped not only with the food programs at the Northwest Branch but also with special events. Since 2020, she has volunteered over 320 hours! She has also volunteered with the Dayton Art Institute since 1999.

Gail began volunteering in July 2020 with the food programs at the Northwest Branch as well. In addition to volunteering with the Library, Gail is also active in the book Club programs DML offers and has reached over 334 hours of service and counting.

Gail and Darlene not only volunteer together, but sometimes they go bowling together.

Many other volunteers have signed up for a shift or two with Gail and Darlene over the years, but once Geneva signed up for a shift and joined the fun, she became a regular. Geneva is a retired teacher and began her volunteering career as a Docent when the Library needed volunteers for the Americans and the Holocaust exhibit at the Main Library in the Spring of 2023. She commented that after that project ended, she continued to receive email notifications about additional Library volunteer opportunities and decided to sign up for a few. She has volunteered at Trotwood, Vandalia, Main, Miamisburg, and West but found her home on the team at Northwest. She has over 100 hours of service and counting.

Darlene encouraged her nephew, VJ, to try volunteering during the summer and on breaks from school. Unlike many students, VJ isn’t trying to fulfill a service requirement. He just enjoys helping people! Since 2022, he has volunteered over 48 hours of service with the Northwest Branch Library.

Thank you to our dedicated Northwest Volunteers!