Barb Garrard of Niles is a retired Howard-Ellis Elementary School principal. In the past she has volunteered with the Niles Education Foundation, where she helped innovative teachers get grants. Today, Garrard continues her giving spirit by volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House in South Bend.

The Ronald McDonald House is for families whose children are staying in Memorial Hospital. The house provides living quarters for families free so they can be near their children.

Garrard also is a volunteer with the Young Americans, which is a charitable organization that promotes musical education.  The group of singers, actors and musicians tour the world and will be stopping in Niles next week on Wednesday, Nov. 16 to put on a production in collaboration with local youth.

What do you do as a volunteer?

Ronald McDonald House:

Depends on what shift you work. I usually work the 6 to 9 shift at night and that means we feed the family dinner, we clean the kitchen, we vacuum and dust, we clean and make sure that security has all the information for our overnight staff. They have a coffee cart that goes around in the morning and we have to make sure the coffee cart is filled.

The Young Americans:

I’m kind of liaison between the town and the Young Americans. We take all the forms and update everything and then we have to run everything to the schools. We have to find housing for the 42 students that are coming. We have to do tickets. We sell DVDs, because it is videotaped.

How did you become involved as a volunteer?

Ronald McDonald House:

I had volunteered at the Niles Education Foundation for four years and I wanted to try something different. I had always heard a lot about it.  That was maybe two years ago.

Young Americans:

My brother, out of high school, went out and joined the group, and he has been with them ever since.

What would you say that you get out of it?

Ronald McDonald House:

Helping people that are in such… they are so vulnerable with sick children and just anything you can do to make their stay easier. If they need to come down and brush their teeth, you go get them a toothbrush and toothpaste or if they need to take a shower and laundry, anything that alleviates stress helps, and they are always so grateful.  And then hopefully they can concentrate more on their sick child.

Young Americans:

Personally, I just get such joy watching these kids be successful, watching their happiness, watching their fun, watching them work together and getting out of their comfort zone and being successful at doing that.  We have had special education kids, we have had a blind child, we have had kids in wheelchairs they are wonderful with any kid, and they make it work.