Kathy Powell is an integral part of CLiF’s volunteer team, a rescue dog lover, and a lifelong literacy enthusiast. In high school, she wrote a rhyming picture book for preschoolers–The Wiggly-Jiggly Book–for her senior project. During college, she interned with a children’s book editor, and after graduation, worked as an editorial assistant at a Manhattan publishing house. In 1993, Kathy was appointed as the parent member of the Baltimore County Public Schools English Content Reading Standards for Grades 5 and 6. With her abiding bookish background, perhaps it’s no surprise she found her way to CLiF–lucky for us!
Q. How long have you been volunteering for CLiF?
In the spring of 2014 I stickered books for CLiF as a Ben & Jerry’s volunteer. A year later I became a CLiF weekly Thursday volunteer.
Q. What inspires you to volunteer?
I love sharing my life-long love of books with children of all ages. CLiF is the perfect venue for getting books to deserving readers in underserved populations.
Kathy reads to an adoring audience.
Q. Who were some of your favorite authors as a child?
My earliest favorite authors were Charlotte Zolotow (Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present; William’s Doll), Marguerite Henry (Misty of Chincoteague; Justin Morgan Had a Horse), and Albert Payson Terhune (Lad: A Dog; Buff: A Collie). Reading still is a major part of my life, especially fiction that focuses on family and friend relationships and challenges.
Q. What’s your most memorable volunteer moment?
Reading a picture book to an attentive pack of CLiF dogs on [CLiF founder] Duncan‘s front stoop.
Q. What’s your favorite thing about volunteering for CLiF?
My favorite thing about volunteering at CLIF is toiling away on Thursdays with my compadres Kim (whom I’ve known since second grade in Montclair, NJ), Cyndi, and Francesca!
Q. What do you do for fun outside of CLiF?
I enjoy reading, spending time with my son and family, being a reading mentor, dogs, nature, and helping anyone in need.
“My daughter took this photo of me with [my dogs] Caulder and Juno. My granddaughter, Key, gave me the hoodie with [my late dogs] Sheila, Lyly, and Winston embroidered on the front.”
