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Marlaine’s Story

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Rainbow Village

Marlaine Barnes enjoyed a long rewarding career as a 1st grade school teacher in New York. When she retired they moved south and she soon was surprised at how much she missed working with kids. She began to explore where she might volunteer and learned about Rainbow Village’s after school program. She jumped right in and found her volunteer experience benefiting her just as much as it did the kids.

Marlaine shares, “I started out very curious. As a new volunteer I wasn’t totally sure how I would fit in. I was delighted to see how bright the kids were and how hungry they were to learn. We hit it off and I made a commitment to be there for them every week. It’s been wonderful!” Marlaine explains that there are three main reasons that she loves volunteering at the Rainbow Village after school program:

• Being around these kids keeps me humble! They’ve endured a lot and they tell it like it is.
• It allows me to feed my grandmotherly instincts. My grandkids live several states away and the kids let me be a grandmother to them.
• Tutoring at Rainbow Village has allowed me to continue to be a teacher. It’s who I am. I need to teach. Volunteering here allows me to continue to share the gifts God has given to me. It’s nice to still be needed.

Marlaine is truly an inspiration to us all and we are all blessed that she has chosen to share her gifts with our kids. No doubt, Rainbow Village kids will be forever changed by her teachings, her example, and her love.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Rainbow Village.