Mighty Volunteer
Darlene Smith
Employer: TRA, Inc.
Hometown: Kresgeville, PA
How long have you been volunteering at MW? Going on three and a half years, since the first summer.
What do you do at Mighty Writers? One-on-one tutoring, workshops, homework help and… fundraising.
What did you like to write as a kid? Stories and poems, likely inspired by my love of Dr. Seuss.
What do you like to write about now? Food and travel, recently.
What makes somebody a Mighty Writer? A passion for writing and an excitement to learn.
What keeps you coming back to Mighty Writers? The Mighty kids and the staff. Mighty Writers is the coolest place I’ve discovered since moving to Philly. There’s always something new going on and a ton of energy to go along with it.
If you could put a Mighty Writers anywhere, where would it be? I am partial to West Philadelphia. There are a lot of schools there and a great volunteer base.
What was your favorite book as a kid? “The Lorax,” by Dr. Seuss.
What was the last book you read? “Tell No One,” by Harlan Coben. It kept me guessing until the very end.
Who influenced you to care about writing? Mrs. Reduzzi, my high school English teacher, had a major impact. She helped me to focus my creativity and writing.
Why is writing important for Philadelphia kids? There are so many opportunities if you have with the right qualifications. Philadelphia is a great city, and can only be improved with an increased level of education and writing skills.
Darlene Smith, one of our Mightiest volunteers, is organizing our annual Beef & Beer at the Pen and Pencil Club on March 7. Thank you, Darlene. We couldn’t be more grateful.
