06/23/2026
Welcome back to our Volunteer Spotlight series!
First up is Linda! A regular Monday volunteer, Linda brings a love of books, meaningful conversations and community to CommonWord each week.
When it comes to browsing the store, she finds it hard to choose just one favourite section, but she's especially drawn to the latest arrivals in the Indigenous-Settler relations and the children's books collections.
One book she returns to repeatedly is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Linda describes it as a book full of hope and beauty that reminds us how much the natural world has to teach us.
Looking for a snack recommendation? Linda's pick is the La Cocina Fiesta chips, though she says the Peace by Chocolate bars are pretty amazing too.
Among the store's many unique gifts, Linda is especially fond of the mini spatulas featuring Indigenous artwork - perfect for getting the last bit of peanut butter or honey from the jar!
When asked about the best part of volunteering at CommonWord, Linda's answer was simple: the people. She enjoys connecting with customers, CMU students, community members, and others who stop by the store. She also enjoys the excitement of discovering what's new each week.
