IWelcome to a feature of How About This: Atlantic Canada Mondays! Every 1 - 2 weeks we feature an interview with someone from one of the 4 Atlantic Canadian provinces. Our latest interview is with Cindy Hall (aka @probablywillnot on Twitter), a lifelong inhabitant of Newfoundland and Labrador who is working to help battle food insecurity in her home province. We’ve given Cindy a few questions by E-mail and she graciously responded.
Over to Cindy!
Librarian in her natural habitat
1. You work as a librarian. How did you come to get this job (i.e. your education, etc)? Was it a lifelong dream to work as a librarian?
Working in a library was never something that crossed my mind. Only when I was finishing my English Lit degree did I consider it because a family member told me I should apply. I began as a substitute and worked various positions within the system. Currently I manage Interlibrary Loans and the Books by Mail service for Eastern NL.
Cindy at work
2. What's the best, most interesting thing that has happened while you were working at a library?
Meeting so many different people from all walks of life is interesting. You see homeless to local celebrities. I've had special guests for programs that run the range from jugglers to musicians! I'm sure there are more interesting stories I'm just terrible at recall atm.
3. You've become known for organizing a series of free food pantries in different parts of Newfoundland and Labrador (primarily St. John's and surrounding areas). How did you come to start this project? Was it a feeling that existing social services were lacking (I'm assuming that NL already has food banks)?
The project started when I saw a post on Twitter of someone placing a Ziploc bag of items on park benches for people to find and use in another province. I'm not sure where now it was several months ago. I challenged myself to get out and do something similar rather than just retweet it. I placed 4 baggies containing snacks and personal hygiene items around the city of Mount Pearl (St. John's neighbour).
The response from people online became so overwhelming that I made hundreds of Community Care Kits as I now call them and distributed them to some local charity organizations. Once the city saw how many kits were being made they constructed 7 pantries and placed them to house the kits. The permanent locations are great because people know where to drop items themselves without needing to contact me and it's a permanent location for others to know where to come and take from it.
One of 7 food pantries in Mount Pearl, NL
There was such a demand for the food and personal items that a committee was just recently formed to look for ways to raise funds all year. Specific items you would find in a kit are seasonal items like winter hats and mitts, band aids, sanitary napkins, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and brush and snacks and small food items. The province does have foodbanks but the need here is greater than what they can keep up with.
4. Do you see the food pantry program expanding outside of Mount Pearl?
I would love to see the food pantry/care kits to expand to other town and cities. Our newly formed committee is looking at ways to grow funding and lend support to others who may wish to start something similar.
5. You’re a lifelong resident of Mount Pearl (NL). Would you recommend it as a great place to live? Why or why not?
Well since I haven't lived anywhere else to compare, I can't really say fairly if this is a great place to live or not!. Mount Pearl has a great sense of community. The province also seems to as a whole. I guess like anywhere you find the positive and negative. Generally, most towns and cities are the same. We all want prosperity and good health for ourselves and neighbours. Sadly that isn't always the case when you peel back layers. I think a place is only as great as your attitude about it.
Mount Pearl, NL
6. Have you ever wanted to live outside of Mount Pearl or NL?
I would love to experience life in Europe and Asia. I've done this side of the planet maybe the other side is greener ;)
7. I've read you talking about the drums and how you've acquired an electronic set which seems to give you a lot of joy. How did you become a drummer? Do you have any other musical interests?
I've always had the itch to drum. I remember as a kid hauling out the pots for drums and using their lids to act as my cymbals with my mother's wooden handled spoons for sticks. I always thought of it as a 'boy's instrument' and it wasn't until I was a mature adult that I realized I could take lessons. So I did! No regrets. I encourage everyone to start that new hobby they've been putting off.
Cindy holding a couple of new drumsticks
8. Have you ever performed as a drummer in front of an audience? Is it something you'd ever consider doing?
I won't perform in front of an audience. My drum instructor told me I could as a final year end option with lesson but I opted to not! I play for me and my own enjoyment.
9. Do you feel that social media services like Twitter have had an overall positive or negative impact on your life?
Social media is as good as you make it. If you follow garbage accounts your feed will be garbage. I try to find like minded, intelligent and funny people to follow. Negative accounts cause negativity. I choose to avoid it.
6. Pretend you wake up one morning and you learn that the Internet has been destroyed. What's the first thing you do?
Encourage people to revisit libraries for information- of course! Actually, the more you think about that the more you realize it's not just a form of social interaction and information but how we live. From home security to banking - it would disrupt our current existence and it's too much to think about .....next question. haha
Thanks to Cindy for participating in this interview and for everything she does in Mount Pearl, NL.
Great interview, thank you Cindy! *hits follow*