Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Shontel

Shontel has a busy schedule with work and school, but sought a volunteer opportunity for her day off during the week. She thought about the time she had spent in libraries over the years and decided it would be a great way to give back. Although she is studying international business economics and information systems, the Home Delivery Service Helper with Dayton Metro Library’s Outreach Services seemed like a perfect fit based on Shontel’s prior experience in home health care. She recognizes many senior apartment buildings, and familiar faces greet her on her deliveries. Shontel enjoys knowing the patrons by name and has skillfully balanced a quick, meaningful check-in conversation while also managing to move on to the next delivery quickly. She has also found that neighbors spread the word about the service to one another, prompting additional enrollment in the service.

Shontel finds that delivering in the morning is relaxing, but she also prepares for the unexpected. Some routes only take three hours, while some are closer to four. During one delivery, the team pulled up in a neighborhood to find a large dog on the loose. Shontel and the DML staff member discussed staying in the van to play it safe, but they noticed the dog was wearing a collar and did not seem aggressive. The dog was soon called down the road by another neighbor, and they were able to continue with their delivery.

To prepare for her day at DML, Shontel eats a delicious breakfast at home, packs snacks and a water bottle, and assesses the weather before heading to the Operations Center. She knows that the weather can sometimes be a factor on any given delivery route. One time, she and a staff member were caught in a wild storm with blowing wind and rain. They were able to don DML rain ponchos to finish their deliveries, but they were a bit of a challenge to unfold in the DML minivan because they are packed in tiny plastic sleeves! During the severe snowstorm of January 2026, the deliveries were simply cancelled.

Despite potential weather issues, Shontel enjoys the exercise she receives from doing the deliveries. In some apartment buildings, she skips the elevator to take the stairs. She also enjoys riding with different staff members as they take turns being the DJ with the music, which can vary from the Beatles to Green Day to Whitney Houston.

Although Shontel has visited many DML Branches over the years, including the old Northmont Branch that was tucked out of sight behind the government building and the old Huber Heights Branch when it was in a shopping center, joining DML Volunteer Services has helped her realize that there is so much more to the Library. She had only been checking out her favorite mysteries and science fiction books and using the Library for convenient wireless printing options. She didn’t know about the unique items in the catalog, like ROKU devices and binoculars, or that the Home Delivery patrons can check out an iPad to use.

Some of her favorite reads are The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson and The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams, who often includes recipes in the book (although Shontel has not tried one yet). Her favorite author is Darren Shan. She is a fan of physical print material and prefers to curl up with a book on the couch in front of her fireplace.

Thank you, Shontel, for 33 hours of service with our Outreach Services team! We appreciate you.