June Volunteer Spotlight: Camille

This month we’re excited to share about Camille, a lovely volunteer!

Where are you from? I was born in Oxford, England. My family moved to New Orleans when I was a baby so I consider myself a native New Orleanian.

What first brought you to 826 New Orleans? I moved back to New Orleans in January and found myself looking for a community to be part of. I’m also a writer at heart! I love talking about writing and reading. I have experience working with youth, so I thought that volunteering at 826 New Orleans would be a great opportunity to meet people, share what knowledge I have and feel inspired.

What keeps you coming back? There’s so much warmth at 826 New Orleans. I love participating in an organization that meets adversities like Covid-19 with thought, ingenuity and play. It’s kept me feeling motivated and part of something larger than myself.

What are some skills you have that help you out at 826 New Orleans? I’m a social butterfly and I love learning about people. I think this skill allows me to connect with others and make them feel welcome and comfortable. One of my favorite things about volunteering is encouraging experimentation and fun- I think that it naturally leads to creativity.

What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us? Recently I’ve been spending a lot of time playing with my foster cat Josie, playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends on Zoom, and binge-watching Avatar: the Last Airbender on Netflix.

Favorite book/ author? Hard to say! Right now I’m really enjoying Bunny by Mona Awad.

Favorite snack? Chocolate chip banana bread.

Favorite thing about New Orleans? I love New Orleans’ sense of humor. There’s such a subversiveness about New Orleans that you can’t get anywhere else. I like to think it’s rubbed off on me.