We’re excited to introduce you to our May Volunteer of the Month, Mary Marge Locker! Mary Marge started volunteering with us in 2022 as a writing mentor for our Teen Writers’ Collective, and continues to get them excited to share their stories. Learn more about Mary Marge by reading her interview below:

826NYC: How did you first get involved with 826NYC and why did you decide to volunteer?

Mary Marge: I got involved with 826 after the pandemic, when successful mutual aid projects inspired me to get more involved with local community, and specifically with the Teen Writers’ Collective because of the life-changing support for my own writing I received as a teen. It’s a pay-it-forward kinda thing.

826NYC: What’s your favorite part of 826NYC?

Mary Marge: I love never knowing what to expect from the teens I work with, what they’ll come up with, how they’ll interpret a reading or a prompt. Whether we’re working on a choose-your-own-adventure story or not, the vibe of the TWC is always a choose-your-own-adventure of sorts. Totally unpredictable, but always, always fun.

826NYC: What do you do when you’re not at 826NYC?

Mary Marge: When I’m not volunteering, I’m working as a journalist, but I also write book reviews and fiction. Other than that, I love to make zines, box, make and eat ice cream, and read books, particularly in translation.

826NYC: What advice would you give a new volunteer?

Mary Marge: My advice for new volunteers: Jump right in, like you’ve always been there. Everyone is happy to have you, and while there’s plenty to learn, you already have so much unique perspective and so many skills to offer, even on your very first day.

826NYC: What are your superpowers?

Mary Marge: Cutting intricate designs out of paper and responding to emails insanely fast. 

Want to support our students this summer? Sign up for a volunteer orientation today!